Blast

-blast \-blast\ [Gr. blasto`s sprout, shoot.]
   A suffix or terminal formative, used principally in
   biological terms, and signifying growth, formation; as,
   bioblast, epiblast, mesoblast, etc.
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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.]
   1. A violent gust of wind.
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            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.
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   2. 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.
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   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.
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   3. 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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   4. The sound made by blowing a wind instrument; strictly, the
      sound produces at one breath.
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            One blast upon his bugle horn
            Were worth a thousand men.            --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.
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            The blast of triumph o'er thy grave.  --Bryant.
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   5. A sudden, pernicious effect, as if by a noxious wind,
      especially on animals and plants; a blight.
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            By the blast of God they perish.      --Job iv. 9.
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            Virtue preserved from fell destruction's blast.
                                                  --Shak.
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   6. 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.
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   7. A flatulent disease of sheep.
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   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.]
      [1913 Webster]See also:
Blow Blast furnace Blast hole Blast nozzle blast orifice In full blast 
Blast 

Blast \Blast\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blasted; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Blasting.]
   1. To injure, as by a noxious wind; to cause to wither; to
      stop or check the growth of, and prevent from
      fruit-bearing, by some pernicious influence; to blight; to
      shrivel.
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            Seven thin ears, and blasted with the east wind.
                                                  --Gen. xii. 6.
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   2. Hence, to affect with some sudden violence, plague,
      calamity, or blighting influence, which destroys or causes
      to fail; to visit with a curse; to curse; to ruin; as, to
      blast pride, hopes, or character.
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            I'll cross it, though it blast me.    --Shak.
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            Blasted with excess of light.         --T. Gray.
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   3. To confound by a loud blast or din.
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            Trumpeters,
            With brazen din blast you the city's ear. --Shak.
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   4. To rend open by any explosive agent, as gunpowder,
      dynamite, etc.; to shatter; as, to blast rocks.
      [1913 Webster]See also:
Blasted Blasting 

Blast \Blast\, v. i.
   1. To be blighted or withered; as, the bud blasted in the
      blossom.
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   2. To blow; to blow on a trumpet. [Obs.]
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            Toke his blake trumpe faste
            And gan to puffen and to blaste.      --Chaucer.
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