blaster

noun

blast·​er ˈbla-stər 

plural blasters

: someone or something that blasts something: such as

a

: one whose work is shattering or demolishing something (such as rock) with an explosive device or agent

Demolition companies that level buildings with explosive charges—and so are called blasters—have been letting the team plant transmitters in the ill-fated structures …

—Peter Weiss

At work in their gaslit catacomb the laborers split into the specialty groups that would become standard in tunnel driving: drillers and blasters worked the heading, blasting out the raw rock …

—Donald Dale Jackson

b

: something that produces a loud sound

specifically : a radio with powerful speakers : boom box

… he listens to alternative rock—Live, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Green Day—very loud, dutifully shouting answers over the blaster and the hair dryer.

—Fred Schruers

c

science fiction : a handheld weapon similar to a gun that fires bolts of energy instead of physical projectiles

For about $30 each, players don headsets and heavy vests—computer and battery pack in back, and on the front the "haptics" technology that creates physical sensations like the rumble of the spaceship's engines or the tingle of a shot from a blaster rifle hitting your body armor.

—Marjie Lambert

Examples of blaster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Whoever designed it has clearly spent time off the pavement and assembled a competent full-bounce blaster that also works well as a daily rider on the pavement. —William Roberson, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

As a ship prepared to be boarded by a band of pirates, soldiers waited with blasters drawn for the impending intruders. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 3 Dec. 2024

Battle as a Mandalorian Nite Owl, Mandalorian Warrior, and two Imperial Commandos, each with their own blaster pistols and jetpack elements. —Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024

Star Wars Ahsoka Tano’s T-6 Jedi Shuttle This 601-piece Star Wars set is complete with a replica of an iconic Jedi Shuttle and minifigures of Ahsoka Tano with lightsabers, Sabine Wren with blasters, Professor Huyang with a wrench, and Marrok with a double-bladed lightsaber. —Kelsey Fredricks, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1578, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing blaster

• ghetto blaster