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 explosions began each morning shortly before the call to prayer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They weren’t on the site of the explosion, Davis said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

No survivors are expected to be found after a major explosion at a Tennessee munitions factory on Friday that has left 18 people unaccounted for.

Read more on BBC

"We can assume that they are deceased at this time," Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis told a news conference, referring to 18 people missing since the explosion Friday in the town of Bucksnort.

Read more on Barron's

The explosion occurred at a plant run by Accurate Energetic Systems in Hickman County's Bucksnort area, prompting official warnings for the public to avoid the area amid fears of secondary explosions.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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