I. ˈbərst, ˈbə̄st, ˈbəist verb
( burst “ ; also bursted -tə̇d ; or archaic brast ˈbrast ; burst also bursted or archaic brast ; bursting ; bursts )
Etymology: Middle English bersten, bresten, from Old English berstan; akin to Old High German brestan to burst, Old Norse bresta to burst, Middle Irish brosc noise, and perhaps to Lithuanian brašketi to make a cracking noise
intransitive verb
1. : to break or fail by breaking when subjected to tension
the rope burst in two as they pulled
specifically : to splinter on impact — used especially of manual weapons (as swords or lances)
2.
a. of a boil or similar lesion : to rupture and discharge its contents
the pain will ease when the abscess bursts
b. : to break to pieces especially from pressure from within : explode
the shell burst overhead
if you eat any more you will burst
broadly : to give way suddenly, explosively, or unexpectedly
the dam burst under the pressure of flood waters
he was ready to burst with disgust
3.
a. : to pass from one place to another especially with great vigor against obstacles or on release from some restraint
he burst into the room
bursting free from the clinging mud
the water burst through the break in the dam
b. : to appear or disappear suddenly or unexpectedly — usually used with words expressing direction (as forth, out, away, into, through )
the sun burst through
the valley burst into view
c. : to make or undergo an abrupt change: as
(1) : to pass from a less to a more vigorous, ardent, or glowing state
the smoldering logs burst into flame
the whole slope will burst into bloom in another month
(2) : to come into bloom : open , unfold
buds are bursting on all the trees
4.
a. : to give or receive sudden or unexpected release or expression (as of a cry previously repressed)
he let his fear burst out in a babble of meaningless chatter
they burst out laughing at the sight of us
b. : to make an abrupt beginning : launch , plunge — usually used with into and especially of expressions of emotion
he burst into song
bursting into a furious rage
he burst into print without adequate preparation
5.
a. : to be full to the point of breaking open or overflowing
barns bursting with grain
streams bursting after the late thaw
b. : to be at the point of giving way to suppressed emotion
he was like to burst with fury
6. : to make a play in forty-one pool that scores more than 41 points
transitive verb
1.
a. obsolete : break , shatter
b. : to break, rend, or shatter by or as if by violent action or by strain or pressure especially from within
a blow that nearly burst his skull
the ever-increasing number of children who are constantly bursting the walls of outmoded buildings — Saturday Review
2.
a. : to force open (as a door) or open (as a way) by sudden or vigorous action
he burst his way through the underbrush
open up or we'll burst the door
b. : to produce (as an opening) by an act or through the effect of bursting
burst a hole through the wall
3. : to cause to burst
this warm weather will burst the buds in a hurry
Synonyms: see break
•
- burst at the seams
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a sudden intense outbreak (as of sound or light)
a burst of flames coming through the roof
one great burst of thunder
especially : a vehement outburst (as of emotion)
a burst of furious rage
b. : explosion , eruption
a burst of violence
especially : the explosion of a projectile
the devastating effect of ground bursts
c. : a brief, intense, or violent effort or exertion
reaching 102 miles per hour in one sustained burst — A.W.Baum
: spurt
put on a final burst of speed and crossed the line first
sometimes : a hard fast ride on horseback
d. : a series of shots fired from an automatic weapon by one pressure of the trigger ; also : the period covered by such a series
a 10-second burst
2.
a. : an act of bursting
beech buds were near the burst — George Meredith
b. : a sudden and often unexpected breaking forth, expressing, or manifesting
in a burst of confidence he told me
a wild burst of sobbing
3. : a result of bursting:
a. : a flaw or break (as in a water pipe) produced by bursting
b. : a visible puff accompanying the blast of an antiaircraft shell
c. : an intense ionization caused by cosmic rays or by particles resulting from spallation and seen in a cloud chamber or photographic emulsion as a figure resembling a bursting artillery shell
d. : a sudden increase in signal strength of radio waves being received by ionospheric reflection that is believed to be caused by a disturbance of the ionosphere meteors
4. : a sudden unfolding to view : an expanse made visible
a fine burst of country — Jane Austen
5. : a play in the game of forty-one pool that scores more than 41 points and requires the player to begin again with no points
6. chiefly Britain : spree , blowout
III. adjective
also bursted “
: that has broken especially by reason of tension or stress
a burst bubble
burst seams
IV. transitive verb
: to separate (as a perforated continuous paper form) into sheets