burst

[ burst ]

verb (used without object)

, burst or, often, burst·ed, burst·ing.

1. to break, break open, or fly apart with sudden violence:

   The bitter cold caused the pipes to burst.

   Synonyms: explode, crack

2. to issue forth suddenly and forcibly, as from confinement or through an obstacle:

   Oil burst to the surface. He burst through the doorway.

3. to give sudden expression to or as if to emotion:

   to burst into applause; to burst into tears.

4. to be extremely full, as if ready to break open:

   The house was bursting with people.

5. to appear suddenly; become visible, audible, evident, etc., all at once:

   The sun burst through the clouds.

verb (used with object)

, burst or, often, burst·ed, burst·ing.

1. to cause to break or break open suddenly and violently:

   He burst the balloon.

   Synonyms: tear, rend

2. to cause or suffer the rupture of:

   to burst a blood vessel.

3. to separate (the parts of a multipart stationery form consisting of interleaved paper and carbon paper).

noun

1. an act or instance of bursting.
2. a sudden, intense display, as of activity, energy, or effort:

   The car passed us with a burst of speed.

   Synonyms: spurt

3. a sudden expression or manifestation, as of emotion:

   a burst of affection.

   Synonyms: outbreak

4. a sudden and violent issuing forth:

   a burst of steam from the pipe.

   Synonyms: outbreak

5. Military.
   1. the explosion of a projectile, especially in a specified place:

      an air burst.

   2. a rapid sequence of shots fired by one pull on the trigger of an automatic weapon:

      A burst from the machine gun shattered all the windows.

6. the result of bursting; breach; gap:

   a burst in the dike.

7. a sudden appearance or opening to view.

burst

/ bɜːst /

verb

1. to break or cause to break open or apart suddenly and noisily, esp from internal pressure; explode
2. intr to come, go, etc, suddenly and forcibly

   he burst into the room

3. intr to be full to the point of breaking open
4. intr to give vent (to) suddenly or loudly

   to burst into song

5. to cause or suffer the rupture of

   to burst a blood vessel

noun

1. a sudden breaking open or apart; explosion
2. a break; breach; rupture
3. a sudden display or increase of effort or action; spurt

   a burst of speed

4. a sudden and violent emission, occurrence, or outbreak

   a burst of applause

   a burst of heavy rain

5. a volley of fire from a weapon or weapons

adjective

1. broken apart; ruptured

   a burst pipe

Derived Forms

• ˈburster, noun

Other Words From

• non·bursting adjective noun
• un·burst adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of burst¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bersten, bursten, Old English berstan (past plural burston ), cognate with Old High German brestan ( German bersten ), Old Norse bresta; akin to break

Word History and Origins

Origin of burst¹

Old English berstan ; related to Old Norse bresta , Old Frisian bersta , Old High German brestan ; compare break

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. burst at the seams, to be filled to or beyond normal capacity:

   This room will be bursting at the seams when all the guests arrive.

Example Sentences

Sailor Song came to her in a sudden burst of inspiration this February.

From BBC

That burst of axions, however, lasts a mere 10 seconds after the neutron star forms -- after that, the production rate drops dramatically -- though hours before the outer layers of the star explode.

From Science Daily

An associate of hers also told officers that she had very little energy and would burst into tears out of the blue after the incident, according to the report.

From Los Angeles Times

“We did as we were told, and when we sat on the front steps Liza spontaneously burst into song with ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow.’

From Salon

The current war broke out after Hamas gunmen burst through the border and attacked Israeli communities, killing about 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and taking 253 into Gaza as hostages.

From BBC

Related Words

• barrage
• blowout
• crack
• eruption
• explosion
• flare
• fusillade
• gust
• outbreak
• outpouring
• rush
• salvo
• shower
• spate
• spurt
• storm
• surge
• torrent
• volley