explode

[ ik-splohd ]

/ ɪkˈsploʊd /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR explode ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), ex·plod·ed, ex·plod·ing.

to expand with force and noise because of rapid chemical change or decomposition, as gunpowder or nitroglycerine (opposed to implode).

to burst, fly into pieces, or break up violently with a loud report, as a boiler from excessive pressure of steam.

to burst forth violently or emotionally, especially with noise, laughter, violent speech, etc.: He exploded with rage when contradicted.

Phonetics. (of plosives) to terminate the occlusive phase with a plosion.Compare implode(def 2).

Golf. to play an explosion shot on a golf ball.

verb (used with object), ex·plod·ed, ex·plod·ing.

to cause (gunpowder, a boiler, etc.) to explode.

to cause to be rejected; destroy the repute of; discredit or disprove: to explode a theory.

Phonetics. to end with plosion.

Golf. to play an explosion shot on (a golf ball).

Obsolete. to drive (a player, play, etc.) from the stage by loud expressions of disapprobation.

QUIZZES

HEED THE VOX POPULI, AND TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Test your memory on these verbal firecrackers from the week of June 29 to July 5!

Question 1 of 7

anchorite

a granular metamorphic rock.

a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion.

a hobble or fetter for a horse or other animal.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of explode

1530–40; < Latin explōdere to drive off by clapping, drive away, equivalent to ex- ex-¹ + plod- variant stem of plaudere to clap, beat

OTHER WORDS FROM explode

ex·plod·er, nounpre·ex·plode, verb, pre·ex·plod·ed, pre·ex·plod·ing.un·ex·plod·ed, adjective

Words nearby explode

explication, explication de texte, explicative, explicit, explicit function, explode, exploded view, explodent, exploding star, exploit, exploitation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for explode

Angry Birds at its simplest was the same way, though you wanted to watch things collapse and explode.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art|Alec Kubas-Meyer|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It failed to explode, but U.S. officials knew they were lucky.
Pakistani School Killers Want to Strike the U.S.|Sami Yousafzai, Christopher Dickey|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Markov tells The Daily Beast he expects the situation in eastern Ukraine to explode in the coming two days.
Ukraine Could Explode in the Next 48 Hours|Anna Nemtsova|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Add in fiery preaching by anti-gay zealots, often funded by American organizations, and you have a volatile brew ready to explode.
The Uganda Ruling is Good For Everyone But Gays|Jay Michaelson|August 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Holmes: “I had five seconds from the time the pin falls off from that grenade until it will explode.”
‘Kill Team’: The Documentary the Army Doesn’t Want You to See|Andrew Romano|July 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My dogs look like they are going to explode, said Chuck as he wiggled his toes in the cool water.
Slim Evans and his Horse Lightning|Graham M. Dean
"And something will explode ere long, I imagine," laughed Horace Kelsey.
The Young Bridge-Tender|Arthur M. Winfield
Very often excessive speed alone will cause a fan to explode.
Life in a Railway Factory|Alfred Williams
In point of fact, the charge is set with an interrupter detonator which will explode as soon at the power line is severed.
The Great Drought|Sterner St. Paul Meek
It may explode on contact or on time, or a combination of these two.
Armageddon--2419 A.D.|Philip Francis Nowlan

British Dictionary definitions for explode

explode

/ (ɪkˈspləʊd) /

verb

to burst or cause to burst with great violence as a result of internal pressure, esp through the detonation of an explosive; blow up

to destroy or be destroyed in this mannerto explode a bridge

(of a gas) to undergo or cause (a gas) to undergo a sudden violent expansion, accompanied by heat, light, a shock wave, and a loud noise, as a result of a fast uncontrolled exothermic chemical or nuclear reaction

(intr) to react suddenly or violently with emotion, etcto explode with anger

(intr) (esp of a population) to increase rapidly

(tr) to show (a theory, etc) to be baseless; refute and make obsolete

(tr) phonetics to pronounce (a stop) with audible plosion

Compare implode

Derived forms of explode

exploder, noun

Word Origin for explode

C16: from Latin explōdere to drive off by clapping, hiss (an actor) off, from ex- 1 + plaudere to clap

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

explode

verb (used without object), ex·plod·ed, ex·plod·ing.

verb (used with object), ex·plod·ed, ex·plod·ing.

QUIZZES

HEED THE VOX POPULI, AND TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Origin of explode

OTHER WORDS FROM explode

Words nearby explode

Example sentences from the Web for explode

British Dictionary definitions for explode

verb

Derived forms of explode

Word Origin for explode

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

explode

verb (used without object), ex·plod·ed, ex·plod·ing.

verb (used with object), ex·plod·ed, ex·plod·ing.

QUIZZES

HEED THE VOX POPULI, AND TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Origin of explode

OTHER WORDS FROM explode

Words nearby explode

Words related to explode

Example sentences from the Web for explode

British Dictionary definitions for explode

verb

Derived forms of explode

Word Origin for explode