explosion

[ ik-sploh-zhuhn ]

noun

1. an act or instance of exploding; a violent expansion or bursting with noise, as of gunpowder or a boiler ( implosion ).
2. the noise itself:

   The loud explosion woke them.

3. a violent outburst, as of laughter or anger.
4. a sudden, rapid, or great increase:

   a population explosion.

5. the burning of the mixture of fuel and air in an internal-combustion engine.
6. Phonetics. plosion.

explosion

/ ɪkˈspləʊʒən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of exploding
2. a violent release of energy resulting from a rapid chemical or nuclear reaction, esp one that produces a shock wave, loud noise, heat, and light Compare implosion
3. a sudden or violent outburst of activity, noise, emotion, etc
4. a rapid increase, esp in a population
5. phonetics another word for plosion

explosion

/ ĭk-splō′zhən /

1. A violent blowing apart or bursting caused by energy released from a very fast chemical reaction, a nuclear reaction, or the escape of gases under pressure.

Other Words From

• postex·plosion adjective
• preex·plosion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of explosion¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin explōsiōn-, stem of explōsiō, from explōs(us) “driven off by clapping” (past participle of explōdere “to drive off by clapping, drive away”; explode ) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of explosion¹

C17: from Latin explōsiō, from explōdere to explode

Example Sentences

Brasilia's Deputy Governor Celina Leao told reporters that the explosion occurred after the man approached the entrance to the court and failed to gain entry.

From BBC

"In the last few months I’ve seen an explosion of people naming their companies Eryri something," he said.

From BBC

In 2011, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Beech and Foster ran a pipe into the mosque from a nearby gas meter in a bid to spark an explosion.

From BBC

After the explosion, she and her husband Volodymyr ran from the next room to find their daughter’s room on fire.

From BBC

“There has been an explosion over the last 10 or 15 years of plantings and those trees are coming online,” Zachary Fraser, president and chief executive of American Pistachio Growers, told the AP.

From Salon

Related Words

• blast
• burst
• detonation
• firing
• outbreak
• outburst