explode Definition
ex·plode (ek splōd′, ik-)
transitive verb -·plod′ed, -·plod′·ing
- to cause to be rejected; expose as false; discredit to explode a theory
- to make burst with a loud noise; blow up; detonate
- to cause to change suddenly and violently from a solid or liquid to a quickly expanding gas
- to cause rapid nuclear fusion or fission in, with accompanying destructive force
- 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
- to be exploded; burst noisily and violently
- to break forth noisily to explode with anger
- to increase very rapidly the area's population is exploding
explode Related Forms
explode Synonyms
explode
v.
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
Browse dictionary entries near explode
- ‹ explicit function
- ‹ Explicit Congestion Notification
- ‹ explicit
- ‹ explication de texte
- ‹ explication
- ‹ explicate
- ‹ explicable
- ‹ expletive
- ‹ explant
- ‹ explanatory
- exploded view ›
- exploit ›
- exploitation ›
- exploitative ›
- exploited ›
- exploration ›
- exploratory ›
- explore ›
- explorer ›
- explosion ›

