( of war, fighting or other unpleasant events ) to start suddenly :
They had escaped to America shortly before war broke out in 1939.
Fighting had broken out between rival groups of fans.
Fire broke out during the night.
—related noun outbreak
( of war, fighting or other unpleasant events ) to start suddenly :
They had escaped to America shortly before war broke out in 1939.
Fighting had broken out between rival groups of fans.
Fire broke out during the night.
—related noun outbreak
Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary. Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне. 2005