explosion
/ɪkˈspləʊʒn/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈspləʊʒn/ (ame, ipa) · /ik-ˈsplō-zhən/ (ame, mw)
explosion — 名詞
1. an event in which a bomb, a gas container, or a reactive substance bursts open v
爆炸
炸彈或容器爆裂的現象
an event in which a bomb, a gas container, or a reactive substance bursts open violently, producing a very loud sound and a powerful outward wave of force
The explosion at the factory shattered windows in nearby houses.
工廠的爆炸震碎了附近房屋的窗戶。
explosion + at [location]
Minh heard the explosion from three blocks away and felt the ground shake.
Minh 聽到三個街區外的爆炸聲，還感覺到地面在晃動。
explosion + heard from [distance]
Firefighters arrived minutes after the gas explosion to control the flames.
瓦斯爆炸幾分鐘後，消防員就到達現場控制火勢。
The explosion sent pieces of metal and glass flying through the air.
爆炸把金屬碎片和玻璃炸得滿天飛。
Diya's family was evacuated after a small explosion occurred in the boiler room.
鍋爐室發生小型爆炸後，Diya 一家人被緊急疏散。
- blast
the most common near-synonym; 'blast' often emphasises the shockwave, while 'explosion' emphasises the bursting event itself
- detonation
more technical; usually refers to a precisely triggered explosion, especially of a bomb or weapon
- eruption
usually for volcanic explosions, or metaphorically for sudden releases
常見錯誤
2. the planned and controlled act of making a bomb or other device blow up, especia
引爆；爆破
刻意使某物爆炸的行動
the planned and controlled act of making a bomb or other device blow up, especially carried out by professionals for demolition or safety purposes
The army carried out a controlled explosion to destroy the old bridge safely.
軍方進行了一次控制爆破，安全地拆除那座舊橋。
controlled explosion
Kevin watched the explosion of the unused fireworks from a safe distance behind a barrier.
Kevin 在安全距離外的屏障後方，觀看了那些未使用的煙火被引爆。
explosion of [object]
The demolition team planned the explosion so that the building would fall straight down.
拆除團隊仔細規劃爆破方式，讓大樓能夠垂直倒塌。
Police ordered the explosion of the suspicious package in a secure area outside the station.
警方下令在車站外的安全區域引爆那件可疑包裹。
- detonation
more technical and precise; 'detonation' implies a chemical reaction travelling at supersonic speed
- blasting
used specifically in mining and construction contexts
用法筆記
This sense focuses on the human action of causing an explosion deliberately, rather than the accidental event itself. It often appears with adjectives such as 'controlled' or 'planned', and the object is introduced with the preposition 'of'.
常見錯誤
3. a sudden and powerful expression of a strong feeling, especially anger, that is
爆發
情緒的突然強烈宣洩
a sudden and powerful expression of a strong feeling, especially anger, that is difficult to control and often comes as a surprise to those around
Hao's sudden explosion of anger surprised everyone in the weekly team meeting.
Hao 突然爆發的怒氣讓每週團隊會議上的所有人都嚇了一跳。
explosion of anger
After days of stress, Zuri had an explosion of tears in her sister's kitchen.
連日壓力之後，Zuri 在姊姊的廚房裡崩溃大哭。
explosion of tears
The coach's explosion of frustration made the players realise how badly they were playing.
教練的沮喪爆發讓球員們意識到自己的表現有多差。
Lan tried not to laugh, but an explosion of laughter escaped during the serious speech.
Lan 努力憋住不笑，但在那場嚴肅的演講中還是忍不住爆發出一陣笑聲。
A quiet disagreement turned into an explosion of shouting between the two neighbours.
一場小口角演變成兩位鄰居之間的大吵大鬧。
- outburst
very similar in meaning; 'outburst' is slightly more neutral and can be positive or negative, while 'explosion' leans toward anger or intensity
- eruption
more dramatic and less common; often used for anger ('eruption of rage')
- fit
informal; 'fit of anger/jealousy' suggests a short, intense episode
- calm
the opposite emotional state
用法筆記
Commonly paired with 'of + emotion noun' — most frequently 'anger', 'rage', 'frustration', 'laughter', or 'tears'. The emotion is typically negative, though 'laughter' is a notable positive/neutral exception. This sense is always countable.
常見錯誤
4. a sudden dramatic rise in a measurable quantity, such as a population, a price,
激增
數量或規模的急速增長
a sudden dramatic rise in a measurable quantity, such as a population, a price, or a level, occurring at a very fast pace
The city has experienced a population explosion over the past decade.
過去十年來，這座城市經歷了一場人口激增。
population explosion
There has been an explosion of interest in electric cars among younger buyers.
年輕買家對電動車的興趣呈現爆炸性增長。
explosion of interest
Mira's bakery saw an explosion in orders after a famous chef praised her cakes.
一位知名主廚稱讚 Mira 的小麵包店後，網路訂單隨即暴增。
The explosion in the number of smartphone users has completely changed how people access news.
智慧型手機用戶數量的爆炸性成長，徹底改變了人們獲取新聞的方式。
An explosion of coffee shops has taken over the main street this year.
過去一年內，主街上湧現了大量新的咖啡店。
- boom
very similar; 'boom' suggests sustained growth over time, while 'explosion' emphasises speed and suddenness
- surge
more neutral; 'surge' suggests a strong upward movement without the dramatic connotation of breaking limits
- soaring
used as a noun ('the soaring of prices') or more commonly as a verb/adjective; implies a continuous upward trend
用法筆記
Very commonly used in business, economics, and social commentary. The typical prepositions are 'in' (explosion in sales/prices) and 'of' (explosion of interest/demand). The 'population explosion' and 'information explosion' are established compound-like phrases.
常見錯誤
5. the act of demonstrating that a widely held belief, idea, or common assumption i
推翻；破除
證明某種觀念是錯誤的
the act of demonstrating that a widely held belief, idea, or common assumption is incorrect or not supported by evidence
The journalist's investigation led to the explosion of a long-held belief about the politician's past.
那名記者的調查推翻了一個關於該政治人物過去長久以來的說法。
explosion of [belief]
Heloísa's research paper achieved a thorough explosion of several popular myths about ancient diets.
Heloísa 的研究論文徹底破除了一些關於古代飲食的常見迷思。
explosion of myths
The documentary offered an explosion of the idea that slaves built the pyramids.
那部紀錄片清楚推翻了金字塔是由奴隸建造的說法。
The professor's book was the final explosion of a theory taught in classrooms for decades.
那位教授的最新著作終結了一個在課堂上已教授三十年的理論。
- debunking
the most direct synonym; 'debunking' is more common in everyday language and less formal
- refutation
more formal and technical; used in academic and philosophical contexts
- discrediting
focuses on damaging the credibility of an idea or person
- confirmation
showing something to be true
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used in the fixed phrase 'explosion of a myth / belief / theory / idea'. It belongs to formal or journalistic registers and is the least common sense in everyday speech. It derives from the verb 'explode' when used figuratively (e.g., 'to explode a myth').