erupt verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of erupt verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

erupt

verb
 
 
/ɪˈrʌpt/
 
/ɪˈrʌpt/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they erupt
 
/ɪˈrʌpt/
 
/ɪˈrʌpt/
he / she / it erupts
 
/ɪˈrʌpts/
 
/ɪˈrʌpts/
past simple erupted
 
/ɪˈrʌptɪd/
 
/ɪˈrʌptɪd/
past participle erupted
 
/ɪˈrʌptɪd/
 
/ɪˈrʌptɪd/
-ing form erupting
 
/ɪˈrʌptɪŋ/
 
/ɪˈrʌptɪŋ/
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  1.  
    [intransitive, transitive] when a volcano erupts or burning rocks, smoke, etc. erupt or are erupted, the burning rocks, etc. are thrown out from the volcano
    • The volcano could erupt at any time.
    • erupt from something Ash began to erupt from the crater.
    • erupt something An immense volume of rocks and molten lava was erupted.
    Synonyms explodeexplodeblow up ▪ go off ▪ burst ▪ erupt ▪ detonateThese are all words that can be used when something breaks apart violently, causing damage or injury. explode to burst (= to break open or apart) loudly and violently, causing damage; to make something burst in this way:
    • The jet smashed into a hillside and exploded.
    • The bomb was exploded under controlled conditions.
    blow (something) up to be destroyed by an explosion; to destroy something by an explosion:
    • A police officer was killed when his car blew up.
    go off (of a bomb) to explode; (of a gun) to be fired:
    • The bomb went off in a crowded street.
    When used about guns, the choice of go off (instead of ‘be fired’) can suggest that the gun was fired by accident.    burst to break open or apart, especially because of pressure from inside; to make something break in this way:
    • That balloon’s going to burst.
    erupt (of a volcano) to throw out burning rocks and smoke; (of burning rocks and smoke) to be thrown out of a volcano.detonate (rather formal) (of a bomb) to explode; to make a bomb explode:
    • Two other bombs failed to detonate.
    Patterns
    • a bomb explodes/​blows up/​goes off/​bursts/​detonates
    • a car/​plane/​vehicle explodes/​blows up
    • a firework/​rocket explodes/​goes off
    • a gun goes off
    Extra Examples
    • the volcano which erupted violently last month
    • Lava erupted close to the summit.
    Topics The environmentb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • violently
    • suddenly
    • periodically
    • …
    verb + erupt
    • threaten to
    preposition
    • in
    • into
    • with
    • …
    See full entry
  2.  
    [intransitive] to start happening, suddenly and violently synonym break out
    • Violence erupted outside the embassy gates.
    • erupt into something The unrest erupted into revolution.
    Extra Examples
    • The violence threatened to erupt into full-scale war.
    • Epidemics periodically erupted throughout the 19th century.
    • Violence occasionally erupts between the opposing factions.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • violently
    • suddenly
    • periodically
    • …
    verb + erupt
    • threaten to
    preposition
    • in
    • into
    • with
    • …
    See full entry
  3. [intransitive, transitive] to suddenly express your feelings very strongly, especially by shouting loudly
    • When Davis scored for the third time the crowd erupted.
    • erupt in/into something My father just erupted into fury.
    • erupt with something The room erupted with laughter.
    • + speech ‘How dare you?’ she erupted.
    Extra Examples
    • His anger suddenly erupted into furious shouting.
    • Michael finally erupted, jumping up from his seat.
    • The audience spontaneously erupted into a standing ovation.
    • The crowd erupted in cheers and sobs of joy.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • violently
    • suddenly
    • periodically
    • …
    verb + erupt
    • threaten to
    preposition
    • in
    • into
    • with
    • …
    See full entry
  4. [intransitive] (of spots, etc.) to suddenly appear on your skin
    • A rash had erupted all over his chest.
    5. Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Latin erupt- ‘broken out’, from the verb erumpere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + rumpere ‘burst out, break’.
See erupt in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee erupt in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: erupt

Nearby words

brink
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Danger
C2
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