to burst or cause to burst with great violence as a result of internal pressure, esp through the detonation of an explosive; blow up

to destroy or be destroyed in this manner

(of a gas) to undergo or cause (a gas) to undergo a sudden violent expansion, accompanied by heat, light, a shock wave, and a loud noise, as a result of a fast uncontrolled exothermic chemical or nuclear reaction

to react suddenly or violently with emotion, etc

(esp of a population) to increase rapidly

to show (a theory, etc) to be baseless; refute and make obsolete

to pronounce (a stop) with audible plosion