burst

A burst is a sudden flurry of activity. Bursts of energy are helpful in shoveling heavy snow, but it's better if you work steadily instead of shoveling fast and stopping.

As a verb, burst is your go-to action word to describe something sudden and energetic happening. It usually means, "to explode outward, with noise" like if you burst into song in the middle of study hall, startling everyone. It also means, “to split open in a violent way due to internal pressure” like an overfilled water balloon. It comes from the Old English word berstan, meaning "break suddenly."

Primary Meanings of burst

1.
 vn
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
the act of exploding or bursting
2.
 v
cause to burst
3.
 vn
move suddenly, energetically, or violently
a sudden flurry of activity (often for no obvious reason)
Full Definitions of burst
1

v come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

“The bubble burst”
Synonyms:
break open, split
Types:
pop
burst open with a sharp, explosive sound
blow
burst suddenly
stave, stave in
burst or force (a hole) into something
Type of:
break, come apart, fall apart, separate, split up
become separated into pieces or fragments

v break open or apart suddenly and forcefully

“The dam burst”
Synonyms:
bust
Types:
shatter
break into many pieces
Type of:
break, come apart, fall apart, separate, split up
become separated into pieces or fragments

v burst outward, usually with noise

Synonyms:
explode
Antonyms:
go off, implode
burst inward
Types:
crump
explode heavily or with a loud dull noise
go off
be discharged or activated
belch, erupt, extravasate
become active and spew forth lava and rocks
Type of:
change integrity
change in physical make-up

v emerge suddenly

“The sun burst into view”
Type of:
emerge
come out into view, as from concealment

n the act of exploding or bursting

“the burst of an atom bomb creates enormous radiation aloft”
Synonyms:
explosion
Types:
detonation
the act of detonating an explosive
fulmination
the act of exploding with noise and violence
percussion
the act of exploding a percussion cap
Type of:
change of integrity
the act of changing the unity or wholeness of something

n rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms

Synonyms:
fusillade, salvo, volley
Type of:
fire, firing
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
2

v cause to burst

Synonyms:
collapse
break, cave in, collapse, fall in, founder, give, give way
break down, literally or metaphorically
Types:
pop
cause to burst with a loud, explosive sound

v force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up

Synonyms:
break, erupt
Type of:
express emotion, express feelings
give verbal or other expression to one's feelings
3

v move suddenly, energetically, or violently

“He burst out of the house into the cool night”
Type of:
bound, jump, leap, spring
move forward by leaps and bounds

v be in a state of movement or action

Synonyms:
abound, bristle
Type of:
feature, have
have as a feature

n a sudden flurry of activity (often for no obvious reason)

“a burst of applause”
Synonyms:
fit
Types:
fits and starts
repeated bursts of activity
Type of:
activity
any specific behavior

n a sudden intense happening

“a burst of lightning”
Synonyms:
flare-up, outburst
Types:
salvo
an outburst resembling the discharge of firearms or the release of bombs
rush
a sudden burst of activity
Type of:
happening, natural event, occurrence, occurrent
an event that happens

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