Words / B1

BLAHST/blɑːst/

A blast in news is often an explosion: a gas blast; a bomb blast. It can also mean a sudden strong wind, or informal a great time (we had a blast). Explosion is a close twin for the news sense. Do not use we had a blast in a formal report. Blast can also be a verb meaning to criticise strongly.

Meaning

An explosion, or the wave of air from one; also a sudden strong wind.

Examples

• “A gas blast damaged shops on the high street.”
• “A gas blast damaged three shops on the high street.”
• “The paper blasted the delay, which is the “criticise” verb sense.”

Good to know

a gas / bomb blast. Close: explosion. Informal fun: have a blast (not in reports). Verb: blast = criticise hard.

Near in meaning

explosion

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