explode

verb

UK /ɪkˈspləʊd/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	explode
he/she/it	explodes
present participle	exploding
past tense	exploded
past participle	exploded

1
intransitive Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬to burst with a lot of force and a loud noise
Bombs were exploding all over the city.
Synonyms and related words
To destroy, or to be destroyed with an explosion
blow up
explode
blow apart
1. 1a
  transitive to make something burst with a lot of force and a loud noise
  Terrorists have exploded bombs across the country.
  Synonyms and related words
  To destroy, or to be destroyed with an explosion
  blow up
  explode
  blow apart
2. 1b
  intransitive literaryto make a sudden loud noise
  Thunder exploded over the meadow.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a loud sound
  bang
  beep
  blare
Collocates
Nouns frequently used as subjects of explode
▪ bomb, device, firework, grenade, shell
2
intransitive to express strong emotions in a sudden, noisy, and often violent way
When I told Ian that Maggie had refused to come, he simply exploded.
explode in/with:
She suddenly exploded with rage, and stormed off.
explode into:
The room exploded into uproar when the fire alarm went off.
Synonyms and related words
To show or express emotions
show
display
manifest
3
intransitive to increase a lot in size, amount, or importance over a very short period of time
The increased availability of food has caused the deer population to explode.
Investment in technology stocks exploded in the 1990s.
Synonyms and related words
To increase, or to increase something
increase
go up
add to
4
transitive to prove that a story or theory that many people believe is in fact false
Scientists wanted to explode the myth of a monster living in the lake.
Synonyms and related words
To try to show that an idea or belief is wrong
dispute
disprove
debunk
5
intransitive to move very quickly
A group of youths exploded out of the door.
explode into:
Suddenly, behind her, the stage explodes into life.
Synonyms and related words
To move somewhere quickly
fly
hasten
speed
1. 5a
  to change very quickly into a new state
  Synonyms and related words
  To become different
  change
  turn into
  change into

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explode

explode