explosion

ex·plo·sion

noun \ik-ˈsplō-zhən\

Definition of EXPLOSION

1

: the act or an instance of exploding <injured in a laboratory explosion>

2

: a large-scale, rapid, or spectacular expansion or bursting out or forth <the explosion of suburbia> <an explosion of red hair>

3

: the release of occluded breath that occurs in one kind of articulation of stop consonants

Examples of EXPLOSION

1. The filmmakers staged the car's explosion.
2. The island was rocked by a series of volcanic explosions.
3. The region has experienced a population explosion.
4. His comments prompted an explosion of laughter from the crowd.

Origin of EXPLOSION

Latin explosion-, explosio act of driving off by clapping, from explodere

First Known Use: 1667

Related to EXPLOSION

Synonyms: blast, blowup, burst, bursting, detonation, eruption, outburst

Antonyms: implosion

Related Words: discharge, firing, shooting; blowout, flare-up; bang, boom, pop; airburst, groundburst

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Rhymes with EXPLOSION

corrosion, displosion, erosion, implosion