explosion Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
    detonation; blowup.
  2. noun the act of exploding or bursting
    burst.
    • the explosion of the firecrackers awoke the children
    • the burst of an atom bomb creates enormous radiation aloft
  3. noun a sudden great increase
    • the population explosion
    • the information explosion
  4. noun the noise caused by an explosion
    • the explosion was heard a mile away
  5. noun the terminal forced release of pressure built up during the occlusive phase of a stop consonant
    plosion.
  6. noun a sudden outburst
    • an explosion of laughter
    • an explosion of rage
  7. noun a golf shot from a bunker that typically moves sand as well as the golf ball

WordNet

Ex*plo"sion noun
Etymology
L. explosio a driving off by clapping: cf. F. explosion explosion. See Explode.
Definitions
  1. The act of exploding; detonation; a chemical action which causes the sudden formation of a great volume of expanded gas; as, the explosion of gunpowder, of fire damp,etc.
  2. A bursting with violence and loud noise, because of internal pressure; as, the explosion of a gun, a bomb, a steam boiler, etc.
  3. A violent outburst of feeling, manifested by excited language, action, etc.; as, an explosion of wrath.
    A formidable explosion of high-church fanaticism. Macaulay.

Webster 1913