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(). [Gr. sprout, shoot.] A suffix or terminal formative, used principally in biological terms, and signifying growth, formation; as, bioblast, epiblast, mesoblast, etc. Blast (blst), n.[AS. blst a puff of wind, a blowing; akin to Icel. blstr, OHG. blst, and fr. a verb akin to Icel. blsa to blow, OHG. blsan, Goth. blsan (in comp.); all prob. from the same root as E. blow. See Blow to eject air.] 1. 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. 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. 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. 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; a 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. Seven thin ears, and blasted with the east wind. Gen. xii. 6. 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. I'll cross it, though it blast me. Shak. Blasted with excess of light. T. Gray. 3. To confound by a loud blast or din. Trumpeters, With brazen din blast you the city's ear. Shak. 4. To rend open by any explosive agent, as gunpowder, dynamite, etc.; to shatter; as, to blast rocks. Blast v. i. 1. To be blighted or withered; as, the bud blasted in the blossom. 2. To blow; to blow on a trumpet. [Obs.] Toke his blake trumpe faste And gan to puffen and to blaste. Chaucer. スポンサード リンク
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