(~s, ~ing)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
Note: The form '~' is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle.
1.
If something ~s or if you ~ it, it suddenly breaks open or splits open and the air or other substance inside it comes out.
The driver lost control when a tyre ~...
It is not a good idea to ~ a blister.
...a flood caused by a ~ pipe.
VERB: V, V n, V-ed
2.
If a dam ~s, or if something ~s it, it breaks apart because the force of the river is too great.
A dam ~ and flooded their villages.
VERB: V, also V n
3.
If a river ~s its banks, the water rises and goes on to the land.
Monsoons caused the river to ~ its banks.
VERB: V n
4.
When a door or lid ~s open, it opens very suddenly and violently because someone pushes it or there is great pressure behind it.
The door ~ open and an angry young nurse appeared.
= fly
VERB: V open/apart
5.
To ~ into or out of a place means to enter or leave it suddenly with a lot of energy or force.
Gunmen ~ into his home and opened fire...
= rush
VERB: V prep/adv
6.
If you say that something ~s onto the scene, you mean that it suddenly starts or becomes active, usually after developing quietly for some time. (JOURNALISM)
He ~ onto the fashion scene in the early 1980s.
VERB: V onto/upon n
7.
A ~ of something is a sudden short period of it.
...a ~ of machine-gun fire...
The current flows in little ~s.
N-COUNT: usu N of n