Definition: burst
burst
adj : suddenly and violently broken open especially from internal
pressure; "a burst balloon"; "burst pipes"; "burst
seams"; "a ruptured appendix"; (`busted' is an informal
term for `burst' as in "a busted balloon") [syn: ruptured,
busted]
n 1: the act of exploding or bursting something; "the explosion
of the firecrackers awoke the children"; "the burst of
an atom bomb creates enormous radiation aloft" [syn: explosion]
2: rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms; "our fusillade
from the left flank caught them by surprise" [syn: fusillade,
salvo, volley]
3: a sudden flurry of activity (often for no obvious reason);
"a burst of applause"; "a fit of housecleaning" [syn: fit]
4: a sudden violent happening; "an outburst of heavy rain"; "a
burst of lightning" [syn: outburst, flare-up]
v 1: break open or apart suddenly; "The bubble burst" [syn: split,
break open]
2: force out or release suddenly and often violently something
pent up; "break into tears"; "erupt in anger" [syn: break,
erupt]
3: burst outward, usually with noise; "The champagne bottle
exploded" [syn: explode] [ant: implode]
4: move suddenly, energetically, or violently; "He burst out of
the house into the cool night"
5: be in a state of movement or action; "The room abounded with
screaming children"; "The garden bristled with toddlers"
[syn: abound, bristle]
6: emerge suddenly; "The sun burst into view"
7: cause to burst; "The ice broke the pipe" [syn: collapse]
8: break open or apart suddenly and forcefully; "The dam burst"
[syn: bust]
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Burst \Burst\, n.
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 exertion 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 or hernia; a breach.
Burst \Burst\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Burst; p. pr. & vb. n. Bursting. The past participle bursten is obsolete.] [OE. bersten, bresten, AS. berstan (pers. sing. berste, imp. sing. b[ae]rst, 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.] 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. Note: 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 unexpectedly 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 \Burst\ (b[^u]rst), v. t.
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.
Bursting charge. See under Charge.
