eruption
Americannoun
-
eruptions
plural
-
an issuing forth suddenly and violently; outburst; outbreak.
-
Geology. the ejection of molten rock, steam, etc., as from a volcano or geyser.
-
something that is erupted or ejected, as molten rock, volcanic ash, or steam.
-
Pathology.
-
the breaking out of a rash or the like.
-
a rash or exanthem.
-
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of eruption
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin ēruptiōn- (stem of ēruptiō ). See erupt, -ion
Explanation
An eruption is an explosion of steam and lava from a volcano. This word is also used for other explosions, such as "an eruption of emotions." If there's an eruption of a volcano, you don't want to be anywhere near it. When a volcano erupts, it spews a huge amount of lava, ash, and steam into the air. If you were angry at a friend but held your tongue for a long time, then suddenly started yelling in anger, that's an eruption too. The sudden spreading of a disease could be called an eruption. Eruptions are quick, huge, explosive, and dangerous: they're never good news.
Vocabulary lists containing eruption
Make a Break for It: Rupt
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
August Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Mexico - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The park service said earthquakes during the 2018 Kīlauea volcano eruption and summit collapse had damaged the cliffs near the arch.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Some historians have proposed that the eruption occurred later in the fall of 79 CE.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026
The researchers nevertheless allowed for a two-month uncertainty around the eruption date.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026
Argon-40 is generally not present in minerals before an eruption occurs.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026
Forest Engineer and Safety Officer Jim Rombach was in charge of making plans to keep the loggers safe in the event of a big eruption.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
Reassuringly for YVO staff, Yellowstone has produced similarly alarming combinations of signals before with no subsequent eruptions.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
Its activity shifted back toward a more typical pattern of Strombolian eruptions, which involve periodic bursts of ash and other volcanic material.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
Its eruptions are often relatively modest, but the volcano is also capable of producing much more hazardous activity.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
By reconstructing two major eruptions from the volcano's past, the scientists found that magma followed very different routes and moved toward the surface at very different speeds.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
He doesn’t realize there are earthquakes and tsunamis and volcanic eruptions destroying my brain and my heart and my soul.
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
