Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To expel gas noisily from the stomach through the mouth.
   • To erupt or gush forth violently, as in smoke, fire, or lava from a volcano.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To expel or emit (something, such as smoke, ash, or words) forcefully and voluminously.

3. Noun:

   • An instance or the sound of expelling gas from the stomach through the mouth; a burp.
   • A violent emission or outburst, as from a volcano or gun.

Usage Examples

• Verb (intransitive):

  • After drinking the soda quickly, he couldn't help but belch.
  • The old factory chimney belches black smoke into the sky all day long.

• Verb (transitive):

  • The volcano belched a massive cloud of ash over the island.
  • He belched an angry insult before slamming the door.

• Noun:

  • He let out a loud belch after the meal, much to his mother's dismay.
  • A sudden belch of steam erupted from the broken pipe.

Advanced Usage

• "to belch forth": To emit or send out in large, forceful quantities.
  • The industrial plant belches forth pollutants into the river.
• Used figuratively to describe something being emitted copiously and often unpleasantly.
  • The radio station belched static and garbled voices.

Variants and Related Words

• Burp (verb/noun): A more informal synonym for belch, primarily for expelling stomach gas.
• Eruct (verb): A formal or technical term for belching.
• Eructation (noun): The formal term for the act or an instance of belching.

Synonyms

• Verb (for expelling gas): Burp, eruct.
• Verb (for emitting forcefully): Spew, eject, vomit, erupt, discharge.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Belch out: To emit or produce something in large, forceful amounts.
  • The truck's exhaust pipe was belching out thick, black fumes.

Related Idioms

• While there is no common idiom centered solely on the word belch, it is often used in vivid descriptions.
  • The cannon belched fire and thunder. (Describes a forceful, noisy emission.)

Noun

1. a reflex that expels gas noisily from the stomach through the mouth

Verb

1. become active and spew forth lava and rocks
   • Vesuvius erupts once in a while
2. expel gas from the stomach
   • In China it is polite to burp at the table