# blast

> English word · Noun · IPA /blɑːst/ · frequency rank #4,140

## Definitions
1. A violent gust of wind (in windy weather) or apparent wind (around a moving vehicle).
2. A forcible stream of gas or liquid from an orifice, for example from a bellows, the tuyeres of a blast furnace, a person's mouth, etc.
3. A hit of a recreational drug from a pipe.
4. The continuous blowing to which one charge of ore or metal is subjected in a furnace.
5. The exhaust steam from an 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.
6. An explosion, especially for the purpose of destroying a mass of rock, etc.
7. A verbal attack or punishment; a severe criticism or reprimand.
8. An explosive charge for blasting.
9. A loud, sudden sound.
10. Unwanted noise from a microphone.
11. A sudden pernicious effect, as if by a noxious wind, especially on animals and plants; a blight.
12. A good time; an enjoyable moment.
13. A promotional message sent to an entire mailing list.
14. A flatulent disease of sheep.
15. A period of full dosage of PEDs as opposed to a period of reduced intake.

## Etymology
From Middle English blast, blest, from Old English blǣst (“blowing, blast”), from Proto-West Germanic *blāstu, from Proto-Germanic *blēstuz (“blowing, blast”).
Cognate with West Frisian blast (“blast”), dialectal Dutch blast (“stubborn intent, drumming”), obsolete German Blast (“wind, blowing”), German blasen (“to blow”), Dutch blazen (“to blow”), Danish blæst (“wind”), French blaser (“to blunt, dull”). More at blow.

## Easily confused with
- **BLS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-bls)
- **boat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-boat)
- **bust** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-bust)
- **brat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-brat)
- **blot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-blot)
- **Boas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-boas)
- **boost** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-boost)
- **bless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-bless)
- **burst** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-burst)
- **brass** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-brass)
- **blunt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-blunt)
- **bliss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-bliss)
- **blaze** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-blaze)
- **blush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-blush)
- **boast** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-boast)
- **brash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-brash)
- **brant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-brant)
- **Brest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-brest)
- **bloat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-bloat)
- **breast** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blast-vs-breast)

## Common misspellings (8)
`balst`, `bblast`, `blasst`, `blastt`, `blats`, `bllast`, `blsat`, `lbast`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/blast