WordGarden.ioexplosion
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɛksplˈəʊʒən/
US
- /ɪksˈploʊʒən/
Meanings
Noun
a sudden violent burst or release of energy, often with heat, noise, and force
a sudden large increase in amount, activity, or popularity
a sudden forceful outburst of feeling, especially anger
Beyond the definition
This word is not only about bombs and fireworks. It describes a sudden, powerful burst, often with noise, force, and damage. A gas explosion in a building is a clear example. But the word is also used in a wider, more figurative way. You can talk about an explosion of anger, color, laughter, or popularity when something appears or grows very fast and with strong energy.
Imagine a pipe bursting with a loud blast, or a singer suddenly becoming famous after one hit song. In one case, the word points to a dangerous physical event. In the other, it shows a fast and dramatic rise. The context makes the meaning clear.
The word "explosion" describes a sudden and violent release of energy or force, usually happening in a very short time. In the most literal sense, it refers to an event in which pressure, heat, gas, or chemical energy is released so quickly that it causes a blast. This is the meaning used for bombs, gas leaks, factory accidents, fireworks, and similar events. Such an event is often loud, dangerous, and destructive.
The idea behind the word is that something has built up and then breaks outward all at once. That is why it often suggests force that can no longer be contained. In real life, this may involve chemicals, fuel, steam, or pressure inside a closed space. When people hear the word in news reports or safety warnings, they usually understand it in this physical sense.
But the word is also common in figurative language. It can describe a sudden, dramatic increase in something, especially when that increase feels intense or hard to control. We may speak of an explosion in prices, population, online interest, or creative activity. We can also use it for emotional or visual effects, such as an explosion of anger, joy, sound, or color. In these cases, there is no actual blast, but the image of something bursting out quickly is still the same.
Historically, the word comes from Latin explodere, which carried the idea of driving something out by clapping or making noise. That older sense helps explain the modern feeling of a forceful burst outward.
What stays the same in all these uses is speed, intensity, and sudden release. Whether you are describing a real blast in a building or a sudden wave of public interest, the word captures the feeling of something bursting outward with great force.
Examples
- 1
Accident
A gas explosion damaged three shops on the corner.
- 2
Injuries
Three workers were hurt in the explosion, but no one was killed.
- 3
Business growth
Since the video went viral, the bakery has seen an explosion in orders.
- Patternan explosion in + amount/activity
a sudden large increase in it
- 4
Population growth
The city experienced a population explosion after the war.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Audience reaction
Her final song was followed by an explosion of applause.
- Patternan explosion of + feeling/sound
a sudden, strong burst of it
- 6
Online anger
The article triggered an explosion of anger online.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- gas explosion
- nuclear explosion
- loud explosion
- cause an explosion
Word family
Explore
- combustion
- shock wave
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- explosionnoun
Forms
- explosionspluralnoun