noun
outbreak
OWTB-rayk
noun
1
A sudden start or spread of something unwelcome, such as a disease or violence.
"Health officials responded quickly to the flu outbreak at the school."
"The outbreak of fighting forced thousands of families to flee."
How to Use Outbreak
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sudden, unwanted eruption of something harmful, especially illness or violence.
Common pairings
disease outbreak
outbreak of violence
contain an outbreak
Word Forms
outbroke past tense, outbroken past tense, outbreaks plural, outbreaks singular
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Health officials responded quickly to the flu _____ at the school.
Etymology
From Old English ūtābrecan, "to break out," built from "out-" and "break."