overblow

present singular third person overblows · participle present overblowing · past overblew · participle past overblown

1. transitiveTo cover with blossoms or flowers.

present singular third person overblows · participle present overblowing · past overblew · participle past overblown

1. transitiveTo blow over or across.
2. transitiveTo blow away; dissipate by or as by wind.
3. transitiveTo exaggerate the significance of something.

   if you do print the DUI story and sensationalize and overblow it

   2006, Jock Lauterer, Community Journalism: Relentlessly Local

4. transitiveentertainmentTo blow a wind instrument (typically a whistle, recorder or flute) hard to produce a higher pitch than usual.

   The upper octaves of the flute's compass are produced by overblowing.

   1909, Leander Jan Bekker, Stokes' Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians

5. intransitiveentertainmentOf a wind instrument, to move from its lower to its higher register.

   The oboe overblows at the octave; the clarinet at the twelfth.

6. archaicintransitivenauticalOf the wind: to blow very hard, often resulting in ships unable to carry full sail.

   Finding it was like to overblow, we took in our Sprit-ſail, and ſtood by to hand the Fore-ſail; but making foul Weather, we look'd the Guns were all faſt, and handed the Miſſen.

   1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “A Great Storm Described, the Long-Boat Sent to Fetch Water, the Author Goes with It to Discover the Country. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part II (A Voyage to Brobdingnag), page 151

   1 more example

   “The wind blows frisking,” the mate cried, scrambling up the ladder and joining the master. “Yea, it is like to over-blow. She took a shrewd plunge but now. We shall further our voyage by striking every sail. Go thou, mate, and have them secure the spritsail-yard, then take thy station on the forecastle.”

   1923, Charles Boardman Hawes, The Dark Frigate, Chapter 8

7. intransitiveobsoleteTo blow over; pass over; pass away.

   But art thou not drown'd, Stephano? I hope now thou are / not drown'd. Is the storm overblown?

   1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]