Erupt (Verb)
Meaning 1
Start to burn or burst into flames; "Marsh gases ignited suddenly"; "The oily rags combusted spontaneously".
Classification
Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering.
Examples
- The dumpster full of garbage and old rags began to erupt in flames after being exposed to sunlight for several hours.
- Old paint cans left in the attic erupted into a fireball when a lightning bolt struck the house.
- The fireworks display was delayed until it was dark, but the crowd didn't have to wait long before the first fuse began to erupt in a spectacular display.
- Dry conditions and lightning caused several wildfires in the area, which seemed to erupt overnight.
- Worn-out electrical wiring in the basement eventually gave out, causing the old wooden beams to erupt in flames.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
Appear on the skin; "A rash erupted on her arms after she had touched the exotic plant".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- A bright red rash erupted on his face after eating the shellfish.
- Small bumps erupted on her skin as she walked through the overgrown field of wildflowers.
- The poison ivy caused painful blisters to erupt on his legs.
- After touching the plant, tiny itchy spots erupted on her hands and wrists.
- Severe acne erupted on her skin in the weeks leading up to her wedding.
Meaning 3
Erupt or intensify suddenly; "Unrest erupted in the country"; "Tempers flared at the meeting"; "The crowd irrupted into a burst of patriotism".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- Protests erupted in the city streets after the government announced the unpopular policy.
- Tensions erupted into a full-blown argument between the two coworkers.
- Violence erupted during the football match after a disputed call was made.
- Rioting erupted overnight in response to the acquittal verdict.
- Chaos erupted when the news broke that the band was canceling their concert tonight.
Synonyms
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Meaning 4
Become raw or open; "He broke out in hives"; "My skin breaks out when I eat strawberries"; "Such boils tend to recrudesce".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- After years of struggling with eczema, her skin began to erupt in painful rashes whenever she felt stressed.
- The acne started with a few minor blemishes but soon erupted into painful cysts that left permanent scars.
- His allergies were so severe that his face would erupt in painful blisters whenever he came near the woods where ragweed grew.
- Years of suppressed emotions seemed to erupt in a physical manifestation of unexplained boils and rashes on her legs.
- She had always been sensitive to soaps, but after using this new brand, her skin began to erupt in severely itchy patches all over her body.
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Meaning 5
Break out; "The tooth erupted and had to be extracted".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Synonyms
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Meaning 6
Become active and spew forth lava and rocks; "Vesuvius erupts once in a while".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The long-dormant volcano began to erupt with massive explosions that lit up the dark night sky.
- Mount St. Helens is known to erupt in extremely violent outbursts that create massive ash clouds.
- Yellowstone is considered an active supervolcano that could erupt at any moment.
- When Mount Vesuvius erupts, the fiery lava flows through the Italian countryside causing destruction.
- Due to rising pressure beneath its surface, the volcano started to erupt and spewed molten lava into the air.
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Meaning 7
Start abruptly; "After 1989, peace broke out in the former East Bloc".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The civil war finally erupted after years of escalating tensions between the two rival factions.
- Hostilities erupted in the troubled region after a series of violent attacks by extremist groups.
- Clashes erupted between protesters and security forces during the contentious rally.
- Riots erupted across the city when news of the politician's scandal spread like wildfire.
- Violence erupted as riot police clashed with angry demonstrators outside the courthouse.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 8
Force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up; "break into tears"; "erupt in anger".
Classification
Verbs of feeling.