burst Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of exploding or bursting
    explosion.
    • the explosion of the firecrackers awoke the children
    • the burst of an atom bomb creates enormous radiation aloft
  2. noun rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms
    fusillade; volley; salvo.
    • our fusillade from the left flank caught them by surprise
  3. noun a sudden flurry of activity (often for no obvious reason)
    fit.
    • a burst of applause
    • a fit of housecleaning
  4. noun a sudden intense happening
    flare-up; outburst.
    • an outburst of heavy rain
    • a burst of lightning
  5. verb come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
    break open; split.
    • The bubble burst
  6. verb force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
    break; erupt.
    • break into tears
    • erupt in anger
  7. verb burst outward, usually with noise
    explode.
    • The champagne bottle exploded
  8. verb move suddenly, energetically, or violently
    • He burst out of the house into the cool night
  9. verb be in a state of movement or action
    abound; bristle.
    • The room abounded with screaming children
    • The garden bristled with toddlers
  10. verb emerge suddenly
    • The sun burst into view
  11. verb cause to burst
    collapse.
    • The ice broke the pipe
  12. verb break open or apart suddenly and forcefully
    bust.
    • The dam burst

WordNet

Burst intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. bersten, bresten, AS. berstan (pers. sing. berste, imp. sing. bærst, imp. pl. burston, p.p. borsten); akin to D. bersten, G. bersten, OHG. brestan, OS. brestan, Icel. bresta, Sw. brista, Dan. briste. Cf. Brast, Break.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Burst; present participle & verbal noun Bursting The past participle bursten is obsolete
Definitions
  1. To fly apart or in pieces; of break open; to yield to force or pressure, especially to a sudden and violent exertion of force, or to pressure from within; to explode; as, the boiler had burst; the buds will burst in spring.
    From the egg that soon Bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosed Their callow young. Milton.
    Often used figuratively, as of the heart, in reference to a surcharge of passion, grief, desire, etc.
    No, no, my heart will burst, an if I speak: And I will speak, that so my heart may burst. Shak.
  2. To exert force or pressure by which something is made suddenly to give way; to break through obstacles or limitations; hence, to appear suddenly and unexpecedly or unaccountably, or to depart in such manner; -- usually with some qualifying adverb or preposition, as forth, out, away, into, upon, through, etc.
    Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth. Milton.
    And now you burst (ah cruel!) from my arms. Pope.
    A resolved villain Whose bowels suddenly burst out. Shak.
    We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea. Coleridge.
    To burst upon him like an earthquake. Goldsmith.
Burst transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To break or rend by violence, as by an overcharge or by strain or pressure, esp. from within; to force open suddenly; as, to burst a cannon; to burst a blood vessel; to burst open the doors.
    My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage. Shak.
  2. To break. Obs.
    You will not pay for the glasses you have burst? Shak.
    He burst his lance against the sand below. Fairfax (Tasso).
  3. To produce as an effect of bursting; as, to burst a hole through the wall.
Burst noun
Definitions
  1. A sudden breaking forth; a violent rending; an explosion; as, a burst of thunder; a burst of applause; a burst of passion; a burst of inspiration.
    Bursts of fox-hunting melody. W. Irving.
  2. Any brief, violent evertion or effort; a spurt; as, a burst of speed.
  3. A sudden opening, as of landscape; a stretch; an expanse. R. "A fine burst of country." Jane Austen.
  4. A rupture of hernia; a breach.

Webster 1913