Definition

1. Verb:
   • To burst forth violently: To be released or expressed suddenly and with force, often after a period of accumulation.
   • To become active and eject lava, rocks, and ash: Used specifically for volcanoes when they become active and discharge material.
   • To appear suddenly on the skin: To break out in a rash, spots, or other skin condition.
   • To break through a surface: To emerge or become visible, such as a tooth breaking through the gum.

Examples of Usage

• Volcanic Activity:
  • Mount St. Helens famously erupted in 1980.
  • Scientists monitor the volcano for signs it might erupt.
• Sudden Outbreak or Violence:
  • Fighting erupted in the streets after the controversial verdict.
  • Applause erupted from the audience when the winner was announced.
• Skin Condition:
  • A painful rash erupted on his chest.
  • Her skin tends to erupt in pimples when she's stressed.
• Emergence:
  • The child's first molar is beginning to erupt.

Advanced Usage

• "erupt into": To suddenly begin a particular state or activity, often a loud or violent one.
  • The peaceful protest erupted into a riot.
  • The courtroom erupted into chaos.
• "erupt from": To burst out of a specific place or source.
  • Lava erupted from the new fissure.
  • A scream erupted from the next room.

Variants and Related Words

• Eruption (n): The act or instance of erupting.
  • The volcanic eruption covered the town in ash.
  • She had a sudden eruption of acne.
• Eruptive (adj): Relating to or characterized by eruptions.
  • The region is known for its eruptive geology.

Synonyms

• Explode: To burst or shatter violently and noisily.
• Break out: To start suddenly (used for conflicts, diseases, or fires).
• Flare up: To suddenly become intense or violent.
• Spew: To flow or gush out in a rapid, forceful stream.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Erupt" itself is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. The action is typically contained in the single verb or expressed with prepositions as shown in "Advanced Usage.")

Related Idioms

• "All hell broke loose": A situation suddenly became very noisy and violent. (This idiom describes a scenario similar to one where chaos .)
  • When the fire alarm went off, all hell broke loose in the office.

Verb

1. become raw or open
   • He broke out in hives
   • My skin breaks out when I eat strawberries
   • Such boils tend to recrudesce
2. appear on the skin
   • A rash erupted on her arms after she had touched the exotic plant
3. force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
   • break into tears
   • erupt in anger
4. become active and spew forth lava and rocks
   • Vesuvius erupts once in a while
5. break out
   • The tooth erupted and had to be extracted
6. start to burn or burst into flames
   • Marsh gases ignited suddenly
   • The oily rags combusted spontaneously
7. erupt or intensify suddenly
   • Unrest erupted in the country
   • Tempers flared at the meeting
   • The crowd irrupted into a burst of patriotism
8. start abruptly
   • After 1989, peace broke out in the former East Bloc