implosion

[ im-ploh-zhuh n ]

/ ɪmˈploʊ ʒən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR implosion ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

Phonetics.

the occlusive phase of stop consonants.
(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.
the ingressive release of a suction stop.Compare plosion.

Nearby words

implied, implied consent, implied warranty, implode, implore, implosion, implosion therapy, implosive, impluvium, imply, impolder

Origin of implosion

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

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

Examples from the Web for implosion

After the implosion of the project, Harris relocated to a commercial apple orchard in upstate New York.
A ‘Truman Show’ For Today: The Return of Josh Harris|Anthony Haden-Guest|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The tsunami of value destruction would dwarf the Lehman Brothers implosion, says Daniel Gross.
Debt-Limit Disaster Is Exponentially Worse Than 2008 Lehman Debacle|Daniel Gross|October 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But these stories always end the same way, with the implosion of the would-be demagogue.
‘Armed Mafia Are Stalking Us’—Conspiracy Peddler Alex Jones Melts Down|John Avlon|January 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
More important, her implosion prompted voters look at John McCain and ask: What in the hell was that guy thinking?
Romney Risks a Worse VP Pick Than Palin by Going With Boring Choice|Michelle Cottle|August 7, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Grimm inquired if there had even been “unreconciled differences” prior to the implosion.
Jon Corzine Can’t Answer $1.2 Billion Question About MF Global at Hearing|Michael Daly|December 16, 2011|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for implosion

implosion

/ (ɪmˈpləʊʒən) /

noun

the act or process of implodingthe implosion of a light bulb

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

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

Medicine definitions for implosion

implosion

[ ĭm-plō′zhən ]

n.

A type of behavior therapy in which the patient is repeatedly subjected to anxiety-arousing stimuli while the therapist attempts to extinguish the patient's anxiety and anxious behavior and replace them with more appropriate responses.

A bursting inward rather than outward.