■ verb ( past and past participle ~ )
1》 break or cause to break suddenly and violently apart.
2》 be very full: the wardrobe was ~ing with clothes.
↘( be ~ing with ) feel (an irrepressible emotion or impulse).
3》 move or be opened suddenly and forcibly.
↘suddenly begin doing or producing something: an aircraft crashed and ~ into flames.
4》 separate (stationery) into single sheets.
■ noun
1》 an instance or the result of ~ing.
2》 a sudden brief outbreak of something violent or noisy.
3》 a period of continuous effort.
Phrases
~ someone's bubble shatter someone's illusions.
Origin
OE berstan , of Gmc origin.