explode

ex|plode [ ık`sploud ] verb **

▸ 1 burst with great force

▸ 2 express sudden emotion

▸ 3 increase quickly

▸ 4 prove story/theory false

▸ 5 move/change quickly

1. ) intransitive to burst with a lot of force and a loud noise: BLOW UP:

Bombs were exploding all over the city.

a ) transitive to make something burst with a lot of force and a loud noise:

Terrorists have exploded bombs across the country.

b ) intransitive LITERARY to make a sudden loud noise:

Thunder exploded over the meadow.

2. ) intransitive to express strong emotions in a sudden, noisy, and often violent way:

When I told Ian that Maggie had refused to come, he simply exploded.

explode in/with: She suddenly exploded with rage, and stormed off.

explode into: The room exploded into uproar when the fire alarm went off.

3. ) intransitive to increase a lot in size, amount, or importance over a very short period of time:

The increased availability of food has caused the deer population to explode.

Investment in technology stocks exploded in the 1990s.

4. ) transitive to prove that a story or theory that many people believe is in fact false: DEBUNK:

Scientists wanted to explode the myth of a monster living in the lake.

5. ) intransitive to move very quickly:

A group of youths exploded out of the door.

explode into: Suddenly, behind her, the stage explodes into life.

a ) to change very quickly into a new state