Blast vs. Explosion — What's the Difference?

A destructive wave of highly compressed air spreading outwards from an explosion

An explosion is a rapid expansion in volume associated with an extremely vigorous outward release of energy, usually with the generation of high temperatures and release of high-pressure gases. Supersonic explosions created by high explosives are known as detonations and travel through shock waves.

A strong gust of wind or air

A violent shattering or blowing apart of something, as is caused by a bomb

A single loud note of a horn, whistle, or similar

A sudden outburst of something such as violent emotion, especially anger

A severe reprimand

A sudden increase in amount or extent

An enjoyable experience or lively party

A sudden, often violent outward expansion resulting from the force of internal pressure or the release of chemical or nuclear energy, typically accompanied by high temperatures.

Blow up or break apart (something solid) with explosives

A violent bursting apart resulting from such expansion.

Produce or cause to produce loud continuous music or other noise

The loud, sharp sound made as a result of either of these actions.

Kick or strike (a ball) hard

A sudden, often vehement outburst

Criticize fiercely

A sudden, great increase

(of a wind or other natural force) wither, shrivel, or blight (a plant)

(Linguistics) See plosion.

Expressing annoyance

A violent release of energy (sometimes mechanical, nuclear, or chemical.)

A very strong gust of wind or air.

A bursting due to pressure.

The effect of such a gust.

The sound of an explosion.

A forcible stream of air, gas, or steam from an opening, especially one in a blast furnace to aid combustion.

A sudden uncontrolled increase.

A sudden loud sound, especially one produced by a stream of forced air

A sudden outburst.

The act of producing such a sound

The act of exploding; detonation; a chemical action which causes the sudden formation of a great volume of expanded gas; as, the explosion of gunpowder, of fire damp, etc.

A violent explosion, as of dynamite or a bomb.

A bursting with violence and loud noise, because of internal pressure; as, the explosion of a gun, a bomb, a steam boiler, etc.

The violent effect of such an explosion, consisting of a wave of increased atmospheric pressure followed immediately by a wave of decreased pressure.

A violent outburst of feeling, manifested by excited language, action, etc.; as, an explosion of wrath.

An explosive charge.

A sudden and substantial increase; a rapid acceleration; as, the population explosion.

(Botany) Any of several plant diseases of diverse causes, resulting in sudden death of buds, flowers, foliage, or young fruits.

A violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction

A destructive or damaging influence.

The act of exploding or bursting something;

A powerful hit, blow, or shot.

A sudden great increase;

A violent verbal assault or outburst

The noise caused by an explosion;

(Slang) A highly exciting or pleasurable experience or event, such as a big party.

The terminal forced release of pressure built up during the occlusive phase of a stop consonant

To knock down or shatter by explosion; smash.

A sudden outburst;

To play or sound loudly

A golf shot from a bunker that typically moves sand as well as the golf ball

To cause to move with great force; hurl

To make or open by explosion

To shoot or destroy by shooting

(Sports) To hit, kick, or shoot (a ball or puck) with great force.

To have a harmful or destructive effect on

To criticize or attack vigorously

To cause to shrivel, wither, or mature imperfectly by blast or blight

To use or detonate explosives.

To emit a loud, intense sound; blare

To discharge a weapon, especially repeatedly; shoot

To attack someone or something verbally; criticize.

To move with great speed or power

(Electronics) To distort sound recording or transmission by overloading a microphone or loudspeaker.

To wither or shrivel or mature imperfectly.

A violent gust of wind.

A forcible stream of gas or liquid from an orifice, for example from a bellows, the mouth, etc.

A hit of a recreational drug from a pipe.

The continuous blowing to which one charge of ore or metal is subjected in a furnace.

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.

An explosion, especially for the purpose of destroying a mass of rock, etc.

An explosive charge for blasting.

A loud, sudden sound.

A sudden, pernicious effect, as if by a noxious wind, especially on animals and plants; a blight.

A good time; an enjoyable moment.

(marketing) A promotional message sent to an entire mailing list.

A flatulent disease of sheep.

(cytology) An immature or undifferentiated cell (e.g., lymphoblast, myeloblast).

(transitive) To make an impression on, by making a loud blast or din.

(intransitive) To make a loud noise.

(transitive) To shatter, as if by an explosion.

(transitive) To open up a hole in, usually by means of a sudden and imprecise method (such as an explosion).

(transitive) To curse; to damn.

To shoot, especially with an energy weapon (as opposed to one which fires projectiles).

(soccer) To shoot; kick the ball in hope of scoring a goal.

To criticize or reprimand severely; to verbally discipline or punish.

(transitive) To bring destruction or ruin on; to destroy.

(transitive) To blight or wither.

To be blighted or withered.

To blow, for example on a trumpet.

To run a nucleotide sequence (for nucleic acids) or an amino acid sequence (for proteins) through a BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool).

To show displeasure or disappointment: damn

A violent gust of wind.

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 exhaust steam from and 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.

The sound made by blowing a wind instrument; strictly, the sound produces at one breath.

A sudden, pernicious effect, as if by a noxious wind, especially on animals and plants; a blight.

The act of rending, or attempting to rend, heavy masses of rock, earth, etc., by the explosion of gunpowder, dynamite, etc.; also, the charge used for this purpose.

A flatulent disease of sheep.

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.

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.

To confound by a loud blast or din.

To rend open by any explosive agent, as gunpowder, dynamite, etc.; to shatter; as, to blast rocks.

To be blighted or withered; as, the bud blasted in the blossom.

To blow; to blow on a trumpet.

A long and hard-hit fly ball

A sudden very loud noise

A strong current of air;

An explosion (as of dynamite)

A highly pleasurable or exciting experience;

Intense adverse criticism;

Make a strident sound;

Hit hard;

Use explosives on;