explosion

noun ex·plo·sion \ ik-ˈsplō-zhən \

Updated on: 9 May 2018

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

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Examples of explosion in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of explosion from the Web

The 68-year-old Blankenship served a one-year prison term on a misdemeanor conviction for conspiring to violate federal mine safety standards at Massey’s Upper Big Branch Mine, where 29 miners were killed in a 2010 explosion.

— Washington Post, "From prison to politics, ex-coal CEO set for Senate vote," 6 May 2018
By the way, Blankenship recently served a prison sentence for conspiracy to violate safety standards at a mine where 29 people were killed in a 2010 explosion.

— angela helm, The Root, "West Virginia Pol Uses the Word ‘Negro’ to Defend Racist Ad About ‘China People’," 6 May 2018
The militant Islamic group Hamas that rules Gaza says six of its members have been killed in an explosion.

— Fox News, "Hamas: 6 militants killed in Gaza blast, media says accident," 5 May 2018
Although officials have not identified the person killed in the explosion or a woman who had been held hostage, records show the Sayres lived at the Quinnipiac Avenue home where the standoff took place.

— josh kovner, courant.com, "Homeowners In North Haven Explosion Identified, Were Going Through A Divorce," 4 May 2018
Nine officers suffered non-life threatening injuries in the explosion, according to the Register.

— stephanie petit, PEOPLE.com, "9 Officers Injured in Explosion Amid Standoff with Connecticut Man Allegedly Holding Wife Hostage," 3 May 2018
Eight people were injured in the explosion and taken to hospitals, police said.

— chicago tribune staff, chicagotribune.com, "Glenbard East HS says its students were among 8 injured in Glendale Heights fire pit explosion," 30 Apr. 2018
Also, an Afghan police officer was killed and four people were wounded in an explosion in eastern Nangarhar province, said Attuhullah Khogynai, spokesman for the provincial governor.

— new york times, cleveland.com, "Trump should win Nobel Peace Prize, says South Korea president," 30 Apr. 2018
Andrea Blessum, a Loy Clark Pipeline spokeswoman, said the company and its insurer have settled or closed 88 percent of the claims filed in the explosion.

— OregonLive.com, "Woman injured in huge NW 23rd Ave. explosion becomes 1st to file lawsuit," 26 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'explosion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of explosion

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

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First Known Use: 1681

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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explosion Synonyms

EXPLOSION Defined for English Language Learners

explosion

noun

Definition of explosion for English Language Learners

: the sudden, loud, and violent release of energy that happens when something (such as a bomb) breaks apart in a way that sends parts flying outward
: a sudden and very fast increase
: a sudden expression of some strong emotion