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definitions

irruptive

[ih-ruhp-tiv]
adjective
  1. of, relating to, or characterized by irruption.
  2. irrupting or tending to irrupt.
  3. Petrology. intrusive.

Origin of irruptive

First recorded in 1585–95; irrupt + -ive
Related formsir·rup·tive·ly, adverbun·ir·rup·tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for irruptive

Historical Examples of irruptive

  • After Dolly's departure, Rinda had made a second irruptive entrance, with the announcement, "Gen'lem!"

    Horace Chase

    Constance Fenimore Woolson

  • One was an irruptive craving within him to take some part in the dynamic activities of the surrounding world.

    Average Jones

    Samuel Hopkins Adams

  • They seem to be a necessary evil to be classed with smallpox, chicken-pox, yellow fever and other irruptive diseases.

    Poems for Pale People

    Edwin C. Ranck

  • In the meantime, concern and suspense and irruptive wrath had their chief abode in the inner room of Remington and Evans.

    The Sturdy Oak

    Samuel Merwin, et al.

  • Fact is, gallant little Wales was swamped by irruptive Ireland.

British Dictionary definitions for irruptive

irruptive

adjective
  1. irrupting or tending to irrupt
  2. of, involving, or causing irruption
  3. obsolete (of igneous rocks) intrusive
Derived Formsirruptively, adverb
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