blast

blast1 [ blæst ] noun *

▸ 1 explosion

▸ 2 current of air/wind/heat

▸ 3 sudden short loud sound

▸ 4 a throw/hit in sports

▸ 5 enjoyable experience

▸ 6 strong criticism

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count MAINLY JOURNALISM an explosion, especially one caused by a bomb:

Ten people were injured in the blast.

The force of the blast threw bodies into the air.

2. ) count a strong current of air, wind, heat, etc.:

blast of: A blast of cold air hit them as they opened the door.

3. ) count a sudden short loud sound, especially on a musical instrument, a car horn, or a WHISTLE:

The ship's siren let out several short blasts.

blast of: There was a sudden blast of music as the car sped by.

4. ) count a powerful throw or hit in a game played with a ball:

Johnson's blast deep into left field drove in the winning run.

5. ) singular SPOKEN a very enjoyable experience:

It was a great trip we had a real blast!

6. ) count usually singular a piece of strong criticism:

The press responded to his remarks with a blast of criticism.

a blast from the past INFORMAL

someone you knew or something that existed in the past, that suddenly appears again or that you are reminded of again

(at) full blast

as loudly or with as much power as possible:

They had their music going full blast.

blast

blast 2 [ blæst ] verb *

▸ 1 damage with gun/bomb

▸ 2 hit something with force

▸ 3 make a loud sound

▸ 4 kick/hit ball hard

▸ 5 criticize someone

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) transitive to damage or destroy something with a bomb or gun:

A massive car bomb blasted the police headquarters.

blast a hole in something: An enemy submarine blasted a huge hole in the side of the ship.

blast something off: It took two shots to blast the lock off the door.

a ) transitive to shoot a person or animal:

He blasted them with his shotgun.

b ) intransitive or transitive to destroy or move earth, rock, or metal using a series of explosions:

They had to blast their way through the mountainside to build the tunnel.

blast through: They blasted through several yards of solid steel.

2. ) intransitive or transitive to hit something with a lot of energy or force:

Rain blasted through the window.

blast someone/something with something: To clean the driveway they blasted it with steam.

3. ) intransitive or transitive if music blasts, or it is blasted, it plays very loudly:

blast out: Music was blasting out from the open window.

a ) to make a loud sound with a car horn

4. ) transitive to kick or hit a ball very hard:

Hamm blasted the ball into the back of the goal.

5. ) transitive to criticize someone very strongly:

In today's Times, the proposal is blasted as pathetic and inadequate.

,blast a`way phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) to shoot at someone or something a lot of times:

Machine guns were blasting away in the distance.

2. ) if music is blasting away, it is playing very loudly

,blast `off phrasal verb intransitive

if a SPACESHIP blasts off, it leaves the ground