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 most recent eruption in the U.S. is occurring right now, said Klemetti. —Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 18 Nov. 2023

The iconic Blue Lagoon has extended its closure through the end of the month as Iceland continues to prepare for a likely volcanic eruption following an increase in seismic activity. —Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023

In 2010, a series of major eruptions at the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland produced an enormous ash cloud that blanketed the area, causing extensive air travel cancellations across Europe. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2023

Scientists suspect that the 2021 eruption kicked off a decades-long period of fissure eruptions across the peninsula; something similar happened 800 years prior. —WIRED, 16 Nov. 2023

Features World The Fragility of Civilization Mike Watson Strategies for surviving the eruption. —Heather Wilhelm, National Review, 9 Nov. 2023

That’s what happened 250 million years ago at the end of the Permian Period, when acid rain and other fallout from volcanic eruptions killed 90 percent of the species on the planet. —Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2023

During the eruption, which had been going on for several weeks, lava was continuously ejected. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 27 Oct. 2023

Is an eruption coming? Oct. 23, 2023 The earthquake occurred at a depth of 6.5 miles. —Quakebot, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2023

See More

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing eruption

• creeping eruption
• post-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