blowouts

Blowout is a term used across several domains to describe a sudden or dramatic event, often involving a large release of energy, pressure, or a large difference in margins. In common usage, it can refer to mechanical failures, geological features, sports results, or cosmetic styling.

In transportation, a tire blowout is the sudden loss of air from a tire, usually due to puncture, wear, or heat. It can cause a vehicle to pull to one side and requires steady control and a safe stop.

In sports, a blowout describes a lopsided game in which one side wins by a large margin. The term can reflect a dominant performance, a mismatch in skill, or a strategy that allows one team to run up the score in regulated play.

In the oil and gas industry, a well blowout refers to an uncontrolled release of oil, gas, or other fluids from a well, driven by subsurface pressure. Blowouts are potentially dangerous and are managed with specialized equipment called blowout preventers and through established well-control procedures.

In geomorphology, a blowout is a depressional feature formed when wind erodes soil and sands from a localized area, creating a hollow or dune-valley. Blowouts can occur in deserts, coastal dunes, and other loose-sediment landscapes and may alter local drainage and vegetation.

In cosmetics and hairstyling, a blowout is a method of hair styling that creates smooth, voluminous, and polished hair using blow drying, brushes, and styling products. It is distinct from permanent treatments or heat straightening.