outbreak

out·break

noun \ˈau̇t-ˌbrāk\

Definition of OUTBREAK

1

a : a sudden or violent increase in activity or currency <the outbreak of war> b : a sudden rise in the incidence of a disease <an outbreak of measles> c : a sudden increase in numbers of a harmful organism and especially an insect within a particular area <an outbreak of locusts>

2

: insurrection, revolt

Examples of OUTBREAK

1. <there was an immediate outbreak of paper shuffling and a pretense of work when the supervisor passed through the room>
2. <the government quelled the outbreak with ruthless efficiency>

First Known Use of OUTBREAK

1602

Related to OUTBREAK

Synonyms: burst, flare, flare-up, flash, flicker, flurry, flutter, outburst, spurt

Related Words: recrudescence, recurrence, renewal; binge, jag, spree; boost, increase, pickup, upswing, upturn; epidemic, eruption, explosion, paroxysm; deluge, flood, rush, spate, surge, volley; commotion, furor, uproar

Near Antonyms: calm, doldrums, slump

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with OUTBREAK

air brake, awake, backache, beefcake, beefsteak, betake, blacksnake, bull snake, canebrake, caretake, cheesecake, cheesesteak, clambake, club steak, corncrake, cube steak, cupcake, daybreak, disc brake, drum brake, earache, earthquake, fair shake, fast break, firebreak, firedrake, fish cake, flank steak, forsake, friedcake, fruitcake, green snake, grubstake, hand brake, handshake, headache, heartache, heartbreak, hoecake, hotcake, housebreak, intake, jailbreak, keepsake, king snake, lapstrake, mandrake, milk snake, mistake, moonquake, muckrake, namesake, newsbreak, oatcake, oil cake, opaque, outtake, Pan-Cake, pancake, partake, pound cake, pump fake, rat snake, remake, retake, rewake, rock brake, seaquake, sea snake, seedcake, sheldrake, shortcake, snowflake, sponge cake, Swiss steak, tea cake, toothache, unmake, uptake, wheat cake, windbreak, wind shake, youthquake