burst
♦ burst /b'ɜːrst/ (bursts bursting)
The form burst is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle.
1 [VERB] V, V n, V-ed
If something bursts or if you burst it, it suddenly breaks open or splits open and the air or other substance inside it comes out.
The driver lost control when a tyre burst...
It is not a good idea to burst a blister.
...a flood caused by a burst pipe.
2 [VERB] V, also V n
If a dam bursts, or if something bursts it, it breaks apart because the force of the river is too great.
A dam burst and flooded their villages.
3 [VERB] V n
If a river bursts its banks, the water rises and goes on to the land.
Monsoons caused the river to burst its banks.
4 [VERB] V open/apart
When a door or lid bursts open, it opens very suddenly and violently because someone pushes it or there is great pressure behind it.
The door burst open and an angry young nurse appeared.
= fly
5 [VERB] V prep/adv
To burst into or out of a place means to enter or leave it suddenly with a lot of energy or force.
Gunmen burst into his home and opened fire...
= rush
6 [VERB] V onto/upon n
If you say that something bursts onto the scene, you mean that it suddenly starts or becomes active, usually after developing quietly for some time. (JOURNALISM)
He burst onto the fashion scene in the early 1980s.
7 [N-COUNT] usu N of n
A burst of something is a sudden short period of it.
...a burst of machine-gun fire...
The current flows in little bursts.burst into
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n, V P n
If you burst into tears, laughter, or song, you suddenly begin to cry, laugh, or sing.
She burst into tears and ran from the kitchen.
...books that cause adults to burst into helpless laughter.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If you say that something bursts into a particular situation or state, you mean that it suddenly changes into that situation or state.
This weekend's fighting is threatening to burst into full-scale war...
3
to burst into flames: see flameburst out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P -ing, V P, V P into/in n
If someone bursts out laughing, crying, or making another noise, they suddenly start making that noise. You can also say that a noise bursts out.
The class burst out laughing...
Then the applause burst out...
Everyone burst out into conversation.
The form burst is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle.
1 [VERB] V, V n, V-ed
If something bursts or if you burst it, it suddenly breaks open or splits open and the air or other substance inside it comes out.
The driver lost control when a tyre burst...
It is not a good idea to burst a blister.
...a flood caused by a burst pipe.
2 [VERB] V, also V n
If a dam bursts, or if something bursts it, it breaks apart because the force of the river is too great.
A dam burst and flooded their villages.
3 [VERB] V n
If a river bursts its banks, the water rises and goes on to the land.
Monsoons caused the river to burst its banks.
4 [VERB] V open/apart
When a door or lid bursts open, it opens very suddenly and violently because someone pushes it or there is great pressure behind it.
The door burst open and an angry young nurse appeared.
= fly
5 [VERB] V prep/adv
To burst into or out of a place means to enter or leave it suddenly with a lot of energy or force.
Gunmen burst into his home and opened fire...
= rush
6 [VERB] V onto/upon n
If you say that something bursts onto the scene, you mean that it suddenly starts or becomes active, usually after developing quietly for some time. (JOURNALISM)
He burst onto the fashion scene in the early 1980s.
7 [N-COUNT] usu N of n
A burst of something is a sudden short period of it.
...a burst of machine-gun fire...
The current flows in little bursts.burst into
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n, V P n
If you burst into tears, laughter, or song, you suddenly begin to cry, laugh, or sing.
She burst into tears and ran from the kitchen.
...books that cause adults to burst into helpless laughter.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If you say that something bursts into a particular situation or state, you mean that it suddenly changes into that situation or state.
This weekend's fighting is threatening to burst into full-scale war...
3
to burst into flames: see flameburst out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P -ing, V P, V P into/in n
If someone bursts out laughing, crying, or making another noise, they suddenly start making that noise. You can also say that a noise bursts out.
The class burst out laughing...
Then the applause burst out...
Everyone burst out into conversation.