blow-n; 12 Senses

Sense Number 1: powerful striking of an object

Commentary: BLOW[+event][+physical][+striking][+forceful]

Examples:
The boxer crumpled to the ground from the continuous blows of his opponent.
This crater is the result of a blow to the earth's surface by a meteor.

Mappings:
PropBank: blow.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 2

Sense Number 2: an unpleasant surprise, setback

Commentary: BLOW[+event][+surprise][+disappointment]

Examples:
The rejection of his paper was a blow to John's ego.
It was a great blow to the company to lose their biggest account to the competition.
Fate had dealt them some terrible blows through the years.
The country struggled to recover after a series of economic blows.
The generous severance package helped soften the blow of being laid off.

Mappings:
PropBank: blow.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3, 4

Sense Number 3: a strong wind

Commentary: BLOW[+event][+physical][+wind][+strong]

Examples:
Weather advisories for a big blow caused the fishing vessels to head for port.
The blow brought down some power lines and large tree branches.

Mappings:
PropBank: blow.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 5

Sense Number 4: slang term for cocaine

Commentary: BLOW[+entity][+substance][+narcotic][+cocaine]

Examples:
The addicts buy their blow from a street vendor.
She watched him cut ten lines of blow on the table top.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 6

Sense Number 5: the forceful exhalation of air from nose or mouth

Commentary: BLOW[+event][+physical][+exhalation][+forceful][+of_air]

Examples:
The coach gave three sharp blows on his whistle to stop the play.
Give your nose a good blow into this handkerchief.
The soldier's blow of the bugle announced reverie.
The jazz musicians had a good blow at the club last night. (blowing on musical instruments)

Mappings:
PropBank: blow.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 7

Sense Number 6: bragging or boasting

Commentary: BLOW[+event][+speech_act][+boasting]

Examples:
Don't listen to their stories, it's just a lot of blow.
She found the man to be quite self-centered and full of blow.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 1_2

Sense Number 7: the act of forcing air through molten metal in a converter

Commentary: BLOW[+event][+physical][+forcing][+oxygen][+through_metal][+molten][+in_converter]

Examples:
The blow is a critical part of the whole process of making steel.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 2c

Sense Number 8: the blooming, blossoming of flowers

Commentary: BLOW[+state][+physical][+blooming][+of_flowers]
NOTE: somewhat dated usage

Examples:
The lilacs were in full blow.
Roses in fragrant blow lined the pathway through the garden.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 9: start fighting

Commentary: IDIOM: come_to_blows

Examples:
The two political factions have come to blows over this issue.
Diplomats are working to keep the two nations from coming to blows.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: Idiom

Sense Number 10: in a single operation

Commentary: IDIOM: at_one_blow

Examples:
He destroyed his chances of admission at one blow.
The whole financial edifice came tumbling down at one blow.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: Idiom

Sense Number 11: be in support of, or against, something

Commentary: IDIOM: strike_a_blow_for IDIOM: strike_a_blow_against

Examples:
It was a chance to strike a blow for freedom. (support it)
It was their effort to strike a blow against the limitations of their social circumstances. (fight it)

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: Idiom

Sense Number 12: none of the above

Commentary: Automatically generated NOTA sense (bbn)

Examples:

Mappings:
PropBank: NM