eruption

noun

erup·​tion i-ˈrəp-shən 

1

a

: an act, process, or instance of erupting

b

: the breaking out of a rash on the skin or mucous membrane

2

: a product of erupting (such as a skin rash)

Synonyms

• agony
• blaze
• burst
• ebullition
• explosion
• fit
• flare
• flare-up
• flash
• flush
• gale
• gush
• gust
• outburst
• paroxysm
• spasm
• storm

Examples of eruption in a Sentence

a great eruption of glee as it suddenly dawned on her that she had won

the eruption of the volcano Krakatoa was one of the most violent in global history

Recent Examples on the Web

The uprisings were manifestly not simply the eruption of a mindless Arab street. —Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2024

Airport service has been stopped, people have been evacuated and officials are warning of a tsunami risk after a series of violent eruptions this week from an Indonesian volcano. —Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing eruption

• creeping eruption
• post-eruption

Kids Definition

eruption

noun

erup·​tion i-ˈrəp-shən 

1

: an act, process, or instance of erupting

2

: a product (as a skin rash) of erupting

Medical Definition

eruption

noun

erup·​tion i-ˈrəp-shən 

1

: an act, process, or instance of erupting

the eruption of the tooth from the gum

specifically : the breaking out of an exanthem or enanthem on the skin or mucous membrane (as in measles)

2

: something produced by an act or process of erupting: as

a

: the condition of the skin or mucous membrane caused by erupting

b

: one of the lesions (as a pustule) constituting this condition