burst
/bɜːst/ (bre, ipa) · /bɜːrst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbərst/ (ame, mw) · /bɝːst/ (ame, ipa)
burst — verb
1. to suddenly fly apart or spring open, often because something inside is pressing
to suddenly fly apart or spring open, often because something inside is pressing outward, or to push something open by force
The pipe burst during the freeze and flooded the kitchen floor.
subject bursts from pressure inside
Ravi burst the paper bag by stuffing in one more orange.
transitive: burst + object
At noon, the old balloon burst above the school yard.
Firefighters burst the locked door open and carried the boy out.
After hours in the sun, several tomatoes burst on the windowsill.
- seal
keep something closed instead of making it fly open
文法句型
something bursts
burst something open
用法筆記
Often used for things under pressure such as pipes, balloons, bags, or fruit. Unlike sense 5, the focus here is on something breaking apart, not on a person or thing rushing somewhere.
常見錯誤
2. to move somewhere very suddenly and forcefully, or to appear from a place withou
to move somewhere very suddenly and forcefully, or to appear from a place without warning
Three reporters burst through the door as the minister reached the car.
burst through + barrier
A deer burst out of the trees and crossed the narrow road.
burst out of + place
At six o'clock, students burst from the hall and filled the square.
Without warning, steam burst from the kettle and fogged the window.
The dog burst into the garden after the red ball.
- drift
move slowly and lightly, not suddenly or forcefully
文法句型
burst into + place
burst out of/from + place
burst through + barrier
用法筆記
The subject usually moves with speed or force, or suddenly appears from a container, building, or natural cover. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 5 is about movement, not about something breaking.
常見錯誤
3. (of a river, lake, or canal) to rise so high that water runs across the land at
(of a river, lake, or canal) to rise so high that water runs across the land at the edges
After two days of rain, the river burst its banks near York.
fixed phrase: burst its banks
By dawn, muddy water had burst its banks and covered the road.
Last spring, the canal burst its banks beside the football field.
News cameras arrived when the swollen river burst its banks again.
- recede
water level moves back instead of spreading over land
文法句型
burst its banks
用法筆記
Used almost entirely in the fixed pattern 'burst its banks'. The subject is a body of water, not the water itself.
常見錯誤
4. to show a very strong feeling or urge all at once because it can no longer be he
to show a very strong feeling or urge all at once because it can no longer be held back
Hana burst into tears when the nurse removed the bandage.
burst into + emotion noun
At the good news, Diego burst out laughing in the hallway.
burst out + -ing form
Yusuf was bursting to tell his parents about the prize.
During the song, several fans burst into cheers from the back row.
The courtroom burst into applause after the judge thanked the volunteers.
- erupt
more forceful and often used for anger or conflict
- break down
usually means starting to cry, not laughter or eagerness
- be eager
states the feeling, but lacks the sudden overflowing effect of 'be bursting to'
- hold back
keep the feeling or urge under control
文法句型
burst into tears/laughter/applause
burst out laughing/crying
be bursting to + verb
用法筆記
This sense strongly prefers patterns such as 'burst into tears', 'burst out laughing', and 'be bursting to tell someone'. Distinguish from sense 5, where someone physically moves somewhere suddenly.
常見錯誤
5. (of a building, object, or material) to begin burning fiercely in a sudden momen
(of a building, object, or material) to begin burning fiercely in a sudden moment
A dry branch touched the heater, and the curtains burst into flames.
burst into flames
After the gas leak, the rubbish pile burst into flames.
The shed burst into flames before the neighbors found a hose.
Blue flames burst up when hot oil hit the stove.
- ignite
more technical and often used in science or instructions
- catch fire
neutral everyday phrase; less sudden and dramatic than 'burst into flames'
- flare up
often used when flames become stronger very quickly
- go out
stop burning instead of suddenly starting to burn
文法句型
burst into flames
用法筆記
Usually used of something catching fire instantly, especially in the fixed phrase 'burst into flames'. For an ordinary strong fire that is already burning, compare sense 1 of 'blaze', not this sense of 'burst'.
常見錯誤
burst — noun
1. a sudden short period when something becomes stronger, faster, louder, or more a
a sudden short period when something becomes stronger, faster, louder, or more active
After lunch, the office had a burst of phone calls from parents.
a burst of + activity noun
Theo finished the race with a last burst of speed.
a burst of speed
There was a burst of applause when the lights came back.
A burst of laughter came from the back table.
Sales rose in a sudden burst after the TV ad aired.
- lull
a quiet period when activity drops
文法句型
a burst of + activity/sound/speed/energy
用法筆記
Very common in the pattern 'a burst of + noun', especially with speed, energy, laughter, applause, and activity. Unlike noun sense 1, this sense does not mean something physically broke open.
常見錯誤
2. a sudden breaking or popping open that lets air, liquid, or what was inside come
a sudden breaking or popping open that lets air, liquid, or what was inside come out
The old water tank failed with a loud burst at midnight.
with a loud burst
We heard a burst from the popcorn bag in the microwave.
The crowd jumped at the sudden burst of the tire on the bridge.
A final burst split the balloon and covered the floor with glitter.
文法句型
with a burst
a burst of a pipe/balloon/tire
用法筆記
Often refers to the sound or event of something popping or breaking open. Distinguish from noun sense 2, which is about a short increase in activity or force.