The Collaborative International Dictionary
Blast \Blast\ (bl[.a]st), n. [AS. bl[=ae]st a puff of wind, a blowing; akin to Icel. bl[=a]str, OHG. bl[=a]st, and fr. a verb akin to Icel. bl[=a]sa to blow, OHG. bl[^a]san, Goth. bl[=e]san (in comp.); all prob. from the same root as E. blow. See Blow to eject air.]
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A violent gust of wind.
And see where surly Winter passes off, Far to the north, and calls his ruffian blasts; His blasts obey, and quit the howling hill.
--Thomson. -
A forcible stream of air from an orifice, as from a bellows, the mouth, etc. Hence: The continuous blowing to which one charge of ore or metal is subjected in a furnace; as, to melt so many tons of iron at a blast.
Note: The terms hot blast and cold blast are employed to designate whether the current is heated or not heated before entering the furnace. A blast furnace is said to be in blast while it is in operation, and out of blast when not in use.
The exhaust steam from and engine, driving a column of air out of a boiler chimney, and thus creating an intense draught through the fire; also, any draught produced by the blast.
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The sound made by blowing a wind instrument; strictly, the sound produces at one breath.
One blast upon his bugle horn Were worth a thousand men.
--Sir W. Scott.The blast of triumph o'er thy grave.
--Bryant. -
A sudden, pernicious effect, as if by a noxious wind, especially on animals and plants; a blight.
By the blast of God they perish.
--Job iv. 9.Virtue preserved from fell destruction's blast.
--Shak. The act of rending, or attempting to rend, heavy masses of rock, earth, etc., by the explosion of gunpowder, dynamite, etc.; also, the charge used for this purpose. ``Large blasts are often used.''
--Tomlinson.-
A flatulent disease of sheep.
Blast furnace, a furnace, usually a shaft furnace for smelting ores, into which air is forced by pressure.
Blast hole, a hole in the bottom of a pump stock through which water enters.
Blast nozzle, a fixed or variable orifice in the delivery end of a blast pipe; -- called also blast orifice.
In full blast, in complete operation; in a state of great activity. See Blast, n., 2. [Colloq.]