Burst — Defs

01 v. i. To fly apart or in pieces; of break open; to yield to force or pressure, especially to a sudden and violent exertion of force, or to pressu…

imp. & p. p. Burst; p. pr. & vb. n. Bursting

1.
To fly apart or in pieces; of break open; to yield to force or pressure, especially to a sudden and violent exertion of force, or to pressure from within; to explode; as, the boiler had burst; the buds will burst in spring.
“From the egg that soon Bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosed Their callow young.” — Milton.

“No, no, my heart will burst, an if I speak: And I will speak, that so my heart may burst.” — Shak.
2.
To exert force or pressure by which something is made suddenly to give way; to break through obstacles or limitations; hence, to appear suddenly and unexpectedly or unaccountably, or to depart in such manner; -- usually with some qualifying adverb or preposition, as forth, out, away, into, upon, through, etc.
“Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth.” — Milton.

“And now you burst (ah cruel!) from my arms.” — Pope.

“A resolved villain Whose bowels suddenly burst out.” — Shak.

“We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea.” — Coleridge.

“To burst upon him like an earthquake.” — Goldsmith.

02 v. t. To break or rend by violence, as by an overcharge or by strain or pressure, esp. from within; to force open suddenly; as, to burst a cannon…

1.
To break or rend by violence, as by an overcharge or by strain or pressure, esp. from within; to force open suddenly; as, to burst a cannon; to burst a blood vessel; to burst open the doors.
“My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage.” — Shak.
2.
To break.[Obs.]
“You will not pay for the glasses you have burst?” — Shak.

“He burst his lance against the sand below.” — Fairfax (Tasso).
3.
To produce as an effect of bursting; as, to burst a hole through the wall.

Phrases & compounds

Bursting charge — See under Charge.

03 n. A sudden breaking forth; a violent rending; an explosion; as, a burst of thunder; a burst of applause; a burst of passion; a burst of inspi…

1.
A sudden breaking forth; a violent rending; an explosion; as, a burst of thunder; a burst of applause; a burst of passion; a burst of inspiration.
“Bursts of fox-hunting melody.” — W. Irving.
2.
Any brief, violent exertion or effort; a spurt; as, a burst of speed.
3.
A sudden opening, as of landscape; a stretch; an expanse.[R.]
4.
A rupture or hernia; a breach.