erupt

[ih-ruhpt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR erupt ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to burst forth: Molten lava erupted from the top of the volcano.

(of a volcano, geyser, etc.) to eject matter.

to break out of a pent-up state, usually in a sudden and violent manner: Words of anger erupted from her.

to break out in a skin rash: Hives erupted all over his face and hands.

(of teeth) to grow through surrounding hard and soft tissues and become visible in the mouth.

verb (used with object)

to release violently; burst forth with: She erupted angry words.

(of a volcano, geyser, etc.) to eject (matter).

Origin of erupt

1650–60; < Latin ēruptus burst forth, broken out (past participle of ērumpere), equivalent to ē- e-¹ + ruptus, past participle of rumpere to break, rupture

Related formse·rupt·i·ble, adjectivepre·e·rupt, verb (used without object)re·e·rupt, verb (used without object)un·e·rupt·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for erupt

detonate, appear, burst, spew, explode, vent, hurl, jet, spit, belch, spout, extravasate, vomit, eruct, spurt, discharge, rupture, emit, boil, gush

Examples from the Web for erupt

Contemporary Examples of erupt

But when he goes over a line that it is ambiguously drawn, then we erupt with outrage.
Phil Robertson’s Despicable AIDS Argument Should Be the Last Straw
Kevin Fallon
September 16, 2014
The very mention of his part in Spice World causes the Brit to erupt in a violent fit of laughter.
Dominic West Talks ‘The Wire’ Movie, Prince Harry, and Why He’s Opposed to Scottish Independence
Marlow Stern
September 16, 2014
Who would have expected a political furor to erupt around a single Nevada rancher?
Cliven Bundy Is Angry—Just Like the Rest of Us
James Poulos
April 19, 2014
Being on the Temple Mount in 2005, the whole atmosphere felt extremely tense, as if chaos could erupt at any moment.
Why Jews Should Be Allowed to Pray On the Temple Mount
Zack Parker
June 25, 2013
Whereas war can erupt in a split second, creating the momentum and awareness for peace is hard work.
The Arab Peace Initiative Makes Its Way to the Knesset
Tal Harris
May 20, 2013

Historical Examples of erupt

At the same moment the earth began to erupt fire and smoke and steel.
A Yankee Flier Over Berlin
Al Avery
From beneath it, the potential troglodyte, that lurks in us all, is ready enough to erupt.
The Paliser case
Edgar Saltus
Shann drew his legs under him, ready to erupt into a counter-offensive.
Storm Over Warlock
Andre Norton
He is evidently preparing to erupt, which he does at intervals of several days.
A Summer's Outing
Carter H. Harrison
It was immense, but it might erupt through a dozen forced openings.
In the Name of Liberty
Owen Johnson

British Dictionary definitions for erupt

erupt

verb

to eject (steam, water, and volcanic material such as lava and ash) violently or (of volcanic material, etc) to be so ejected

(intr) (of a skin blemish) to appear on the skin; break out

(intr) (of a tooth) to emerge through the gum and become visible during the normal process of tooth development

(intr) to burst forth suddenly and violently, as from restraintto erupt in anger

Derived Formseruptible, adjectiveeruption, noun

Word Origin for erupt

C17: from Latin ēruptus having burst forth, from ērumpere, from rumpere to burst

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for erupt

1650s, of diseases, etc., from Latin eruptus, past participle of erumpere "to break out, burst" (see eruption). Of volcanoes, from 1770. Related: Erupted; erupting.

erupt in Medicine

erupt

[ĭ-rŭpt′]

v.

To break through the gums in developing. Used of teeth.

To appear on the skin. Used of a rash or blemish.