Etymology The verb is derived from Late Middle English blaren, bleren, bloren (“to bellow, cry, wail; of a goat: to bleat”), probably from Old English *blǣran, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁- (“to bleat, cry”) and ultimately imitative. Related to Middle Dutch blaren, bleren (“to bawl, cry; to shout; to bleat”) (modern Dutch blèren). The noun is derived from the verb. Cognates German Low German blaren, blarren Middle High German blêren, blerren (modern German plärren) Saterland Frisian blärje West Frisian blearje
1
To play (a radio, recorded music, etc.) at extremely loud volume levels.
Often followed by out
In 2000, a robber held up a bank in San Diego, USA. It seems everyone held their noses rather than sticking their hands up because the man was so smelly! […] Police helicopters blared loudspeaker warnings about the smelly man.2014, Nick Arnold, “Body Breakdowns and Recovery”, in Horrible Science: Body Owner’s Handbook, revised edition, London: Scholastic Children’s Books, →ISBN, page 159:
2
Figuratively To express (ideas, words, etc.) loudly; to proclaim.
[T]he world, the world, / All ear and eye, with such a stupid heart / To interpret ear and eye, and such a tongue / To blare its own interpretation— […]1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Elaine”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, page 196:
3
To make a loud sound, especially like a trumpet.
The trumpet blaring in my ears gave me a headache.
[O]n plains, and under City-walls, innumerable regimental bands blare-off into the Inane, without note from us.1837, Thomas Carlyle, “Mankind”, in The French Revolution: A History […], volume II (The Constitution), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, book I (The Feast of Pikes), page 49:
2 more examples
Blazon your mottos of blessing and prayer! / Welcome her, welcome her, all that is ours! / Warble, O bugle, and trumpet, blare! / Flags, flutter out upon turrets and towers!1863 (date written), Alfred Tennyson, “A Welcome to Alexandra. March 7, 1863.”, in Enoch Arden, &c., London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], published 1864, →OCLC, page 164:
France, even after 30 years of extraordinary synth, electro and urban pop, is still beaten with a stick marked "Johnny Hallyday" by otherwise sensible journalists. Songs that have taken Europe by storm, from the gloriously bleak Belgian disco of Stromae's Alors on Danse to Sexion d'Assaut's soulful Desole blare from cars everywhere between Lisbon and Lublin but run aground as soon as they hit Dover.2011 December 14, Andrew Khan, “Music Blog: How Isolationist is British Pop?”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 23 May 2013:
4
Dialectal To make a lengthy sound, as of a person crying or an animal bellowing or roaring.
Archaic except UK
And the kyne wente ſtraight waye vnto Beth Semes vpon one ſtreete, and wente on blearynge, and turned nether to the righte hande ner to the lefte.1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, I. Kynges [1 Samuel] vj:[12], folio xxviij, recto, column 2:
The worthies alſo of Moab bleared and cried for very ſorow of their myndes: Wo is my hert for Moabs ſake.1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Esay [Isaiah] xv:[4–5], folio vi, verso, column 2:
1 more example
Behold, at eve, the herd returning home / From fruitful meads vvhere they have grazed their fill, / No longer in the ſtalls contain'd, they ruſh / VVith many a friſk abroad, and, blaring oft, / VVith one conſent all dance their dams around, […]1791, Homer, “[The Odyssey.] Book X.”, in W[illiam] Cowper, transl., The Iliad and Odyssey of Homer, Translated into Blank Verse, […], volume II, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC, page 236, lines 496–500:
Etymology The verb is derived from Late Middle English blaren, bleren, bloren (“to bellow, cry, wail; of a goat: to bleat”), probably from Old English *blǣran, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁- (“to bleat, cry”) and ultimately imitative. Related to Middle Dutch blaren, bleren (“to bawl, cry; to shout; to bleat”) (modern Dutch blèren). The noun is derived from the verb. Cognates German Low German blaren, blarren Middle High German blêren, blerren (modern German plärren) Saterland Frisian blärje West Frisian blearje
1
A loud sound.
I can hardly hear you over the blare of the radio.
[T]heir host of eagles flew / Past the Pyrenean pines, / Follow'd up in valley and glen / With blare of bugle, clamour of men, / Roll of cannon and clash of arms, / And England pouring on her foes.1852, Alfred Tennyson, “Stanza VI”, in Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 10:
3 more examples
They danced on silently, softly. Their feet played tricks to the beat of the tireless measure, that exquisitely asinine blare which is England's punishment for having lost America.1922 October, Michael Arlen, “Book the Second: The Friends. Chapter II.”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days, London; Glasgow: W[illiam] Collins Sons & Co., […], published August 1924, →OCLC, section 1, page 84:
The blare of the music and the restlessness of the chorus afflicted his nerves.1924 May 24 – July 12, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, “Judson Finds an Old Friend”, in Bill the Conqueror: His Invasion of England in the Springtime, 10th edition, London: Methuen & Co. […], published 1931, →OCLC, page 242:
The screeching of brakes, the monotonous blare of motor horns, the clip-clip of shoes on slippery pavements, the rustling of wet mackintoshes were all part of the great metropolis.1936, F[rederick] J[oseph] Thwaites, chapter XXII, in The Redemption, Sydney, N.S.W.: H. John Edwards Publishing, published 1940, →OCLC, page 214:
2
Figuratively Of colour, light, or some other quality: dazzling, often garish, brilliance.
Archivist Camus, an Old-Constituent appointed Archivist, he and the Ancient Twelve, amid blare of military pomp and clangour, enter, bearing the divine Book: and President and all Legislative Senators, laying their hand on the same, successively take the Oath, with cheers and heart-effusion, universal three-times-three.1837, Thomas Carlyle, “The Book of the Law”, in The French Revolution: A History […], volume II (The Constitution), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, book V (Parliament First), page 209:
And we came to the Isle of Fire: we were lured by the light from afar, / For the peak sent up one league of fire to the Northern Star; / Lured by the glare and the blare, but scarcely could stand upright, / For the whole isle shudder'd and shook like a man in a mortal affright; […]1880, Alfred Tennyson, “[Ballads and Other Poems.] The Voyage of Maeldune. (Founded on an Irish Legend. A.D. 700.)”, in Ballads and Other Poems, London: C[harles] Kegan Paul & Co., […], →OCLC, stanza VII, pages 148–149:
3
Dialectal A lengthy sound, as of a person crying or an animal bellowing or roaring.
Obsolete except UK
The herds [of bison], in their flight from the burning pastures had rushed over the bed of the watercourse—scaled the slopes of the banks. […] One cry alone more wild than their own savage blare pierced the reek through which the Brute Hurricane swept.1861 September 28 – 1862 March 8, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter XLVII, in A Strange Story. […], volume II, London: Sampson Low, Son, & Co., […], published 1862, →OCLC, pages 369–370: