An explosion is a sudden, violent burst of energy, for example one caused by a bomb.
A second explosion came minutes later and we were enveloped in a dust cloud.
Three people have been killed in a bomb explosion in northwest Spain.
Synonyms: blast, crack, burst, bang More Synonyms of explosion
2. variable noun
Explosion is the act of deliberately causing a bomb or similar device to explode.
Bomb disposal experts blew up the bag in a controlled explosion.
France has carried out an underground nuclear explosion on Mururoa Atoll in the SouthPacific.
3. countable noun
An explosion is a large rapid increase in the number or amount of something.
The study also forecast an explosion in the diet soft-drink market. [+ in]
He explains that there was an explosion of courses through the 1960s.
The spread of the suburbs has triggered a population explosion among America's deer.
4. countable noun
An explosion is a sudden violent expression of someone's feelings, especially anger.
Every time they met, Myra anticipated an explosion.
It was an explosion of anger against the practices of the occupying forces.
Synonyms: outburst, fit, storm, attack More Synonyms of explosion
5. countable noun
An explosion is a sudden and serious political protest or violence.
They warned him that a referendum might cause an explosion in the country.
...the explosion of protest and violence sparked off by the killing of seven workers. [+ of]
6. countable noun
An explosion is a sudden very loud noise.
[literary]
There was an explosion of music.
More Synonyms of explosion
explosion in British English
(ɪkˈspləʊʒən)
noun
1.
the act or an instance of exploding
2.
a violent release of energy resulting from a rapid chemical or nuclear reaction, esp one that produces a shock wave, loud noise, heat, and light
Compare implosion (sense 1)
3.
a sudden or violent outburst of activity, noise, emotion, etc
4.
a rapid increase, esp in a population
5. phonetics another word for plosion
Word origin
C17: from Latin explōsiō, from explōdere to explode
explosion in American English
(ɛkˈsploʊʒən; ɪkˈsploʊʒən)
noun
1.
an exploding; esp., a blowing up, or bursting with a loud noise; detonation
2.
the noise made by exploding
3.
a noisy outburst; loud breaking forth
an explosion of wrath
4.
a sudden, rapid, and widespread increase
a population explosion
5. Phonetics
plosion
Word origin
L explosio < pp. of explodere: see explode
explosion in Automotive Engineering
(ɪksploʊʒən)
Word forms: (regular plural) explosions
noun
(Automotive engineering: Fuels, oils, emissions, and other fluids)
An explosion is a very rapid combustion, with a sudden loud noise, that is damaging to internal combustion engines.
Ignition of unburned residual mixture is not likely to be the cause of an explosion in an engine cylinder.
Excessive heating of the fuel, due to gasoline pipes being too near the engine, wasthe cause of the explosion.
The loud knocking noise was due to a violent explosion in one of the engine's cylinders.
explosion in Chemical Engineering
(iksploʊʒən)
Word forms: (regular plural) explosions
noun (count) (noncount)
(Chemical Engineering: Process safety)
An explosion happens when a free gas expands very quickly, because of a chemical reaction that produces a gas, or because a container of pressurized gas ruptures.
If the oil has a high enough vapor pressure, a match could light the vapor beforeit reached the wick, possibly causing an explosion.
An explosion is a sudden catastrophic release of energy, causing a pressure wave.
An explosion happens when a free gas expands very quickly, because of a chemical reaction thatproduces a gas, or because a container of pressurized gas ruptures.
Examples of 'explosion' in a sentence
explosion
The force of the explosion could have blown him out into the sea.
MacNeill, Alastair CODE BREAKER (2002)
The second guard was kneeling on the floor, his hands clasped over his eyes, temporarily blinded by the explosion.