verb
burst
burst
verb
1
To break open suddenly, often from internal pressure.
"The balloon burst with a loud pop."
"A pipe burst in the basement during the freeze."
2
To move suddenly and forcefully, especially entering or exiting.
"She burst into the room, breathless with news."
noun
1
A sudden, brief outbreak or surge of something.
"A burst of laughter came from the back of the class."
"The sprinter finished with a final burst of speed."
How to Use Burst
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo break open suddenly, or a short, sudden surge of something (energy, noise, activity).
Common pairings
burst into tears
burst into flames
a burst of energy
burst a pipe
Word Forms
burst past tense, brast past tense, bursted past tense, bursten past tense, bursts plural, bursts singular
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Etymology
From Old English "berstan," tracing back to a Proto-Germanic and Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to burst, break, or split."