erupt Hear it!

erupt Definition

erupt (ē rupt′, i-)

intransitive verb

  1. to burst forth or out, as from some restraint erupting lava, a riot erupted
  2. to throw forth lava, water, steam, etc., as a volcano or geyser
  3. to break out in a rash
  4. to break through the gums and become visible: said of new teeth

Etymology: < L eruptus, pp. of erumpere, to break out, burst forth < e-, out + rumpere, to break: see rupture

transitive verb

to cause to burst forth; throw forth; eject

erupt Related Forms

erupt′·ible adjective

erupt Synonyms

erupt

v.

eject, vent, burst forth; see emit 1, explode 1.

erupt Usage Examples

Object

  • volcano: To erupt the volcano, pour a portion of the activation solution into the can.
  • lava: Did you know that not all volcanoes erupt lava?
  • tooth: Partially erupted teeth are more likely to become decayed and infected.

Preposition: on

street: What erupted on the streets of New York on September 11 was not an attack on America alone.

Preposition: into

  • riot: This wasn't unusual: over the previous two years there had been dozens of such incidents which erupted into food riots.
  • violence: This was a source of great tension which often erupted into violence.
  • war: The Crimean War In 1854, long-standing tensions over Russian expansion in Europe erupted into war.

Modifying Another Word

  • periodically: By Nick Pearce, director Renewal - 21 September 2004 The politics of race erupt periodically in Britain.
  • violently: A few months ago the problem of Cyprus erupted violently before us.
  • suddenly: Pressure was building at the Earth's very core... Volcanoes, millions of years extinct, suddenly erupted into burning, gushing life.
  • occasionally: For the rest of her life, pins would occasionally erupt from her skin.
  • again: Fighting erupted again in 2000; many thousands fled from their homes to escape it.
  • soon: We can't get out and the volcano is going to erupt soon.

Used with why or when

when: But our ebullient spirits erupted when an opportunity arose to support or oppose a cause which was within our competence to judge.

Preposition: in

  • applause: The audience temporarily stunned regain their senses to erupt in mass applause.
  • laughter: She erupted in laughter at what he thought was a rather bad joke.
  • cheer: The crowd erupted in cheers, then fell silent, a silence broken only by the ominous groaning of the dam.
  • flame: Colleen takes the stand and testifies she saw Lizzie dispose of a kerosene bottle moments before the house erupted in flames.
  • protest: Last May and June, Bolivia erupted in national protest once again over the gas issue.
  • violence: That was the day in 2001 that the Yorkshire city erupted in violence.