/ bɜːst; NAmE bɜːrst/ verb , noun
■ verb ( burst , burst )
1.
to break open or apart, especially because of pressure from inside; to make sth break in this way :
[ v ]
That balloon will burst if you blow it up any more.
The dam burst under the weight of water.
Shells were bursting (= exploding) all around us.
( figurative )
He felt he would burst with anger and shame.
a burst pipe
[ vn ]
Don't burst that balloon!
The river burst its banks and flooded nearby towns.
➡ note at explode
2.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to go or move somewhere suddenly with great force; to come from somewhere suddenly :
He burst into the room without knocking.
The sun burst through the clouds.
The words burst from her in an angry rush.
3.
[ v ] be bursting (with sth) to be very full of sth; to be very full and almost breaking open :
The roads are bursting with cars.
to be bursting with ideas / enthusiasm / pride
The hall was filled to bursting point .
The hall was full to bursting .
( informal )
I'm bursting (for a pee)! (= I need to use the toilet right now) .
•
IDIOMS
- be bursting to do sth
- burst sb's bubble
- burst open | burst (sth) open
—more at bubble noun , seam
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- burst in | burst into a room, building, etc.
- burst in on sb/sth
- burst into sth
- burst on / onto sth
- burst out
■ noun
1.
a short period of a particular activity or strong emotion that often starts suddenly :
a sudden burst of activity / energy / anger / enthusiasm
Her breath was coming in short bursts .
I tend to work in bursts .
spontaneous bursts of applause
2.
an occasion when sth bursts; the hole left where sth has burst :
a burst in a water pipe
3.
a short series of shots from a gun :
frequent bursts of machine-gun fire
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English berstan , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bersten , barsten .