explosionnoun
uk/ɪkˈspləʊ.ʒən/us/ɪkˈsploʊ.ʒən/explosion noun (BURST)
B2 [ C or U ] the fact of something such as a bomb exploding:
The fire was thought to have been caused by a gas explosion.
The explosion (= the intentional exploding) of nuclear devices in the Bikini Atoll was stopped in 1958.
More examples
- Fortunately there was no one in the house at the time of the explosion.
- The explosion sent pieces of metal and glass hurtling through the air.
- Eight people, including two children, were injured in the explosion.
- The explosion brought the whole building crashing to the ground.
- Witnesses say that there was an explosion and then the plane dropped from the sky.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Exploding and erupting
- blast
- blow (sb/sth) up
- blowout
- burst
- burst in on sb/sth
- burst in/into (somewhere)
- detonate
- explode
- explosive
- flare
- go
- go off
- go pop idiom
- go up
- ignite
- live
- pop
- set
- set sth off
- test-fire
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explosion noun (EMOTION)
[ C ] a sudden strong expression of emotion:
There was an explosion of applause from the audience at the end of the performance.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Expressing and showing feelings
- abandon
- affective
- be in/get into a state idiom
- beat your breast/chest idiom
- beetroot
- bubble
- expression
- flame
- impassioned
- lose it idiom
- marvel
- moved
- overflow
- pine
- throw
- vocalize
- wear your heart on your sleeve idiom
- whimper
- wring
- wring your hands idiom
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explosion noun (INCREASE)
C1 [ C ] a large increase in the number of something that happens very quickly:
The government has had to take measures to halt the population explosion.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Increasing and intensifying
- -ify
- a snowball effect idiom
- accretion
- accumulate
- accumulative
- add fuel to the fire idiom
- balloon
- bump
- dial
- heighten
- hot up
- increase
- increment
- pile
- rack
- speed-up
- spurt
- step
- step sth up
- supersize
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explosion noun (FALSE IDEA)
[ U ] the act of proving that something is wrong:
the explosion of the conspiracy theories surrounding the death of the star
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Proving and disproving
- actions speak louder than words idiom
- attest
- authenticate
- back sb up
- bear witness (to sth) idiom
- belie
- catch
- colour
- do justice to yourself idiom
- documentary
- evidence
- explode
- give the lie to sth idiom
- proof
- stick
- testament
- the acid test
- the burden of proof idiom
- undocumented
- unsubstantiated
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