implosion

[im-ploh-zhuhn]

noun

1. the act of imploding; a bursting inward (explosion ).

2. Phonetics.

   1. the occlusive phase of stop consonants.

   2. (of a stop consonant) the nasal release heard in the common pronunciation of eaten, sudden, or mitten, in which the vowel of the final syllable is greatly reduced.

   3. the ingressive release of a suction stop.

implosion

/ ɪmˈpləʊʒən /

noun

1. the act or process of imploding

   the implosion of a light bulb

2. phonetics the suction or inhalation of breath employed in the pronunciation of an ingressive consonant

Word History and Origins

Origin of implosion¹

First recorded in 1875–80; im- ¹ + (ex)plosion

Example Sentences

A supernova is, therefore, technically first an implosion.

Read more on Space Scoop

Week 12 supplied an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Read more on BBC

He highlighted the similarities between the newly recovered device and previously identified examples, including three vertically aligned hydrophones and signs consistent with deep-water implosion.

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As media implosions go, it doesn’t get much worse than the fiasco engulfing the British Broadcasting Corp.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Act III: A 50-point implosion that sucked the air out of the season and didn’t please any Bruin.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bankruptcy 
• breakdown 
• collapse 
• decline 
• defeat 
• deficiency 
• deterioration 
• failing 
• loss 
• misstep