explode Hear it!

explode Definition

ex·plode (ek splōd′, ik-)

transitive verb -·plod′ed, -·plod′·ing

  1. to cause to be rejected; expose as false; discredit to explode a theory
  2. to make burst with a loud noise; blow up; detonate
  3. to cause to change suddenly and violently from a solid or liquid to a quickly expanding gas
  4. to cause rapid nuclear fusion or fission in, with accompanying destructive force
  5. Golf to hit (a ball) from a sand trap with an explosion shot

Etymology: orig., to drive off the stage by clapping and hooting < L explodere < ex-, off + plaudere, to applaud

intransitive verb

  1. to be exploded; burst noisily and violently
  2. to break forth noisily to explode with anger
  3. to increase very rapidly the area's population is exploding

explode Related Forms

ex·plod′·able adjective ex·plod′er noun

explode Synonyms

explode

v.

  1. To burst

    blow up, blow out, blast, blow a fuse, break out, erupt, go off, detonate, discharge, backfire, fly apart, fly into pieces, shatter, rupture, fracture, split, convulse, collapse, thunder, blow off, pop, blow to smithereens*; see also rage 1.

  2. To discredit

    disprove, refute, confute; see disprove.

explode Usage Examples

Object

  • myth: Chief among these exploded myths is the popular belief that hypnosis is sleep.
  • bomb: Ten bombs exploded on trains in Madrid on 11 March 2004.
  • codswallop: She also did her explode the code easily [ or, as she put it, exploding codswallop!
  • volcano: Despite the scientist trying to control the monsters, they crush Tokyo underfoot, but an exploding volcano finally destroys the creatures.
  • code: SB did some explode the code 1 - nearly at the end!
  • cult: To begin, Alan Alford explains that the religions of the Near East were exploded planet cults.

Preposition: as

supernova: Large stars die out quickly, and explode as supernovae.

Preposition: onto

scene: Mauritius exploded onto the scene 10 million years ago through a series of underwater volcanic eruptions.

Preposition: into

  • fireball: This will cause it to explode into a fireball, giving severe burns to anyone nearby.
  • flame: Within a minute, the bushes had exploded into flames shooting 15ft into the air.

Modifying Another Word

  • prematurely: On 17 May, a faulty grenade prematurely exploded killing Tom.
  • some: SB did some explode the code 1 - nearly at the end!
  • violently: Once they have exhausted their nuclear fuel, they die, sometimes exploding violently in the process.

Used with why or when

when: Oh, and they explode when they get too close to you.

Present participle complement

kill: On 17 May, a faulty grenade prematurely exploded killing Tom.

Preposition: in

  • mid-air: When an airplane he is on explodes in mid-air, she needs to know if somehow what he did to her was the cause.
  • popularity: Migrating musicians brought son west to Havana in the 1920s, where it exploded in popularity.
  • flame: But them came the end: the flying disk exploded in flames, a few seconds later.

Preposition: with

  • rage: Shia and Sunni population centers in the north and south have exploded with rage?
  • anger: Have you ever had a time when for apparently no reason you have exploded with anger?