blast
UK: blɑːst | US: blæst
n. 1. A strong gust of wind or air.
n. 2. An explosion or violent release of energy.
vt. 1. To destroy or break apart with explosives.
vt. 2. To criticize harshly.
n. 3. (Informal) A highly enjoyable experience.
The word "blast" traces back to Old English blǣst, meaning "a blowing, breeze, or puff of wind," derived from Proto-Germanic blēstuz. The root bl- is linked to the action of blowing (seen in words like "blow" and "bloom"), while -ast likely functioned as a noun-forming suffix in early Germanic languages. Over time, "blast" expanded from describing natural wind to violent explosions (16th century) and later figurative uses like criticism (19th century) or fun (20th century slang).
A sudden blast of cold air rushed through the open window.
The construction crew used dynamite to blast through the rock.
The film received harsh blasts from critics for its weak plot.
We had a blast at the concert last night!
The bomb's blast shattered windows blocks away.