blowout
UK[ˈbləʊaʊt]US[ˈbloʊaʊt]
n
a sudden bursting of a tire
n
a large, lavish meal or social event
n
a decisive victory in a sports contest
n
an uncontrolled eruption of oil or gas from a well
Morpheme Breakdown
blow
out
blow
to expel air, to burst
out
external, outward
Etymology
the modern compound "blowout" is formed from two native english elements. the verb "blow," from old english blāwan, carries a core sense of air in motion, which extended to concepts of bursting or sudden release, as in a tire or a geyser. the adverbial particle "out," from old english ūt, signifies direction away from an interior. when combined, the literal image is of a forceful expulsion outward. this concrete meaning logically evolved through metaphor to describe other sudden, expansive, or uncontrolled events, such as a lavish feast (where spending or consumption 'bursts' normal limits) or a one-sided sports victory.
Analysis
Structure: blow (to expel air, to burst) + out (external, outward)
blow (old english 'blāwan', meaning to move air, to bloom, to sound; a verb root). out (old english 'ūt', an adverb meaning away from the inside or center).
Examples
we had to pull over because of a tire blowout on the highway.
the company's annual party was a real blowout with food, music, and fireworks.
the game was a complete blowout, with the home team winning by forty points.