burst

Noun

• a sudden intense happening
  • an outburst of heavy rain
    
  • a burst of lightning
    

• a sudden flurry of activity (often for no obvious reason)
  • a burst of applause
    
  • a fit of housecleaning
    

• rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms
  • our fusillade from the left flank caught them by surprise
    

• the act of exploding or bursting
  • the explosion of the firecrackers awoke the children
    
  • the burst of an atom bomb creates enormous radiation aloft
    

Verb

• break open or apart suddenly and forcefully
  • The dam burst
    

• cause to burst
  • The ice broke the pipe
    

• emerge suddenly
  • The sun burst into view
    

• be in a state of movement or action
  • The room abounded with screaming children
    
  • The garden bristled with toddlers
    

• move suddenly, energetically, or violently
  • He burst out of the house into the cool night
    

• burst outward, usually with noise
  • The champagne bottle exploded
    

• force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
  • break into tears
    
  • erupt in anger
    

• come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
  • The bubble burst
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  outburst , flare-up , fit , fusillade , salvo , volley , explosion , bust , collapse , abound , bristle , explode , break , erupt , split , break open
• Antonyms: 
  implode , go off