ex ‧ plo ‧ sion W3 /ɪkˈspləʊʒ ə n $ -ˈsploʊ-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: adjective : exploding, ↑ explosive , ↑ exploded , ↑ unexploded ; noun : ↑ explosion , ↑ explosive ; verb : ↑ explode ; adverb : ↑ explosively ]
1 . [countable] a loud sound and the energy produced by something such as a bomb bursting into small pieces ⇨ explode
bomb/gas/nuclear explosion
Several people were injured in a bomb explosion.
We heard a loud explosion.
huge/massive etc explosion
A massive explosion ripped through the building.
2 . [uncountable and countable] a process in which something such as a bomb is deliberately made to explode:
Police carried out a controlled explosion of the device.
3 . [countable] a sudden or quick increase in the number or amount of something:
the population explosion in India
explosion of
the recent explosion of interest in Latin music and dance
4 . [countable] a sudden expression of emotion, especially anger SYN outburst
5 . [countable] a sudden very loud noise
explosion of
an explosion of laughter
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + explosion
▪ a big explosion
There has been a big explosion in the centre of Paris.
▪ a huge/massive/enormous explosion
An enormous explosion tore the roof off the building.
▪ a tremendous explosion (=very big and powerful)
The torpedo struck the side of the ship, followed by a tremendous explosion.
▪ a powerful explosion
The powerful explosion was heard from Portland, Maine to Albany, New York.
▪ a major explosion formal
We are getting reports of a major explosion at the oil refinery.
▪ a loud explosion
We heard several loud explosions followed by an eerie silence.
▪ a deafening explosion (=extremely loud)
The building collapsed in a deafening explosion.
▪ an almighty explosion old-fashioned (=extremely loud)
There was an almighty explosion and I was knocked to the ground.
▪ a muffled explosion (=one that is not heard very clearly)
We could just make out a muffled explosion from deep inside the mine.
▪ a nuclear/atomic explosion
This is the site of the first ever nuclear explosion.
▪ a gas explosion
Firefighters say that a gas explosion destroyed the building.
▪ a volcanic explosion (=one caused by a volcano)
You could see where a volcanic explosion had blown the mountain peak away.
■ verbs
▪ cause an explosion
The police do not yet know what caused the explosion.
▪ set off/trigger an explosion (=cause an explosion)
Investigators believe a fuel leak may have triggered the explosion.
▪ carry out an explosion (=cause one deliberately)
By 1942, the United States had carried out test explosions with nuclear bombs.
▪ hear an explosion
Marie was reading in bed when she heard the explosion.
▪ an explosion takes place/happens
The largest explosion took place at the main post office.
▪ an explosion occurs formal
The explosion occurred just off the coast of Greece.
▪ an explosion shakes something
A series of explosions shook the building.
▪ an explosion destroys something
Seven people died when the explosion destroyed the bus.
▪ an explosion kills somebody
Last year, an underground explosion killed 82 miners.
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + explosion
▪ a sudden explosion
Henry thought she was going to laugh, but then there was a sudden explosion of sobbing.
▪ a population explosion
The decision not to plant the fields led to a population explosion in rabbits.
■ phrases
▪ an explosion of interest in something
There has been an explosion of interest in networking websites in the last few years.
▪ an explosion of violence
The army had to cope with the explosion of violence that followed the elections.
▪ an explosion of anger
The verdict was greeted by an explosion of public anger.
▪ an explosion of colour literary
After the rain, the desert bloomed in an explosion of color.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ a very big increase
▪ explosion noun [countable] a sudden very large increase in the amount or number of something:
There has been an explosion in the number of fast food restaurants.
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The country experienced a population explosion.
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The book caused an explosion of interest in Renaissance Italy.
▪ boom noun [singular] a sudden large increase in trade, profits or sales, with the result that a country, company, or industry becomes very successful. Boom is also used about a sudden increase in interest in something, with the result that it becomes very popular:
the German economic boom of the 1960s
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the Internet boom
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There has been a boom in sales of diet books and videos.