burst

views updated May 29 2018

burst / bərst/ • v. (past and past part. burst) [intr.] (of a container) break suddenly and violently apart, spilling the contents, typically as a result of an impact or internal pressure: we inflated dozens of balloons and only one burst. ∎  [tr.] cause to break, esp. by puncturing: he burst the balloon in my face. ∎  [tr.] (of contents) break open (a container) from the inside by growing too large to be held: the swollen river was expected to burst its banks. ∎  [tr.] suffer from the sudden breaking of (a bodily organ or vessel): he burst a blood vessel during a fit of coughing. ∎  be so full as almost to break open: the drawers were bursting with clothes. ∎  feel a very strong or irrepressible emotion or impulse: he was bursting with joy and excitement she was bursting to say something. ∎  suddenly begin doing something as an expression of a strong feeling: if anyone said anything to upset me, I'd burst out crying. ∎  issue suddenly and uncontrollably, as though from a splitting container: an aircraft crashed and burst into flames. ∎  be opened suddenly and forcibly: a door burst open and a girl raced out.• n. an instance of breaking or splitting as a result of internal pressure or puncturing; an explosion. ∎  a sudden issuing forth: her breath was coming in short bursts. ∎  a sudden outbreak, typically short and often violent or noisy: a sudden burst of activity. ∎  a short, sudden, and intense effort: he sailed 474 miles in one 24-hour burst.PHRASES: burst someone's bubble shatter someone's illusions about something or destroy someone's sense of well-being.

burst

views updated May 29 2018

burst (tr. and intr.) OE. str. vb. berstan = OS., OHG. brestan. ON. bresta :- Gmc. *brestan; IE. *bhrest- is repr. also in OIr. brissim I break, Gael. bris. The form burst for all parts prevailed by the end of XVI.
Hence burst sb. XVII.

Burst

views updated May 14 2018

Burst

a vehement outburst.

Examples: burst of applause; of gratitude, 1775; of ill humour, 1838; of laughter, 1838; of merriment, 1751; of passion; of sunlight, 1854; of thunder, 1671.

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