blow

Pronunciation: /bloʊ/

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
  2. noun an impact (as from a collision)
  3. noun an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating

Etymology

From Middle English blowen, from Old English blāwan (“to blow, breathe, inflate, sound”), from Proto-West Germanic *blāan, from Proto-Germanic *blēaną (“to blow”) (compare German blähen), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁- (“to swell, blow up”) (compare Latin flō (“to blow”) and Old Armenian բեղուն (bełun, “fertile”)).

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
stroke
Narrower (hyponyms)
knockdown, stinger, backhander, punch, wallop, counterblow

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