explosion

[ik-sploh-zhuhn]

noun

1. an act or instance of exploding; a violent expansion or bursting with noise, as of gunpowder or a boiler (implosion ).

2. the noise itself.

   The loud explosion woke them.

3. a violent outburst, as of laughter or anger.

4. a sudden, rapid, or great increase.

   a population explosion.

5. the burning of the mixture of fuel and air in an internal-combustion engine.

6. Phonetics.,  plosion.

explosion

/ ɪkˈspləʊʒən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of exploding

2. a violent release of energy resulting from a rapid chemical or nuclear reaction, esp one that produces a shock wave, loud noise, heat, and light Compare implosion

3. a sudden or violent outburst of activity, noise, emotion, etc

4. a rapid increase, esp in a population

5. phonetics another word for plosion

explosion

1. A violent blowing apart or bursting caused by energy released from a very fast chemical reaction, a nuclear reaction, or the escape of gases under pressure.

Other Word Forms

• postexplosion adjective
• preexplosion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of explosion¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin explōsiōn-, stem of explōsiō, from explōs(us) “driven off by clapping” (past participle of explōdere “to drive off by clapping, drive away”; explode ) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of explosion¹

C17: from Latin explōsiō, from explōdere to _explode

Example Sentences

The new images reviewed by BBC Verify show that intensive bombardments and controlled explosions have levelled several neighbourhoods over the past four weeks.

From BBC

Normally in a Dwayne Johnson film, you're never more than about four minutes away from the next explosion or car chase.

From BBC

Stoinis' slower ball eventually did for him with 15 balls left in the innings and, despite Invincibles' usual explosion of boundaries late on not coming, the damage to the Rockets was done.

From BBC

The Ukrainian military said there were "numerous explosions and fires were recorded at the facility", which they said produces a volume of three million tons per year.

From BBC

After the big explosion that woke us up, we could see huge plumes of smoke on the horizon.

From BBC

Related Words

• blast 
• burst 
• detonation 
• firing 
• outbreak 
• outburst