explosion

[ ik-sploh-zhuh n ]
/ ɪkˈsploʊ ʒən /

noun

an act or instance of exploding; a violent expansion or bursting with noise, as of gunpowder or a boiler (opposed to implosion).
the noise itself: The loud explosion woke them.
a violent outburst, as of laughter or anger.
a sudden, rapid, or great increase: a population explosion.
the burning of the mixture of fuel and air in an internal-combustion engine.
Phonetics. plosion.

Origin of explosion

1615–25; < Latin explōsiōn- (stem of explōsiō), equivalent to explōs(us) driven off by clapping (past participle of explōdere to explode) + -iōn- -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM explosion

post·ex·plo·sion, adjective pre·ex·plo·sion, noun

Example sentences from the Web for explosion

British Dictionary definitions for explosion

explosion
/ (ɪkˈspləʊʒən) /

noun

the act or an instance of exploding
a violent release of energy resulting from a rapid chemical or nuclear reaction, esp one that produces a shock wave, loud noise, heat, and light Compare implosion (def. 1)
a sudden or violent outburst of activity, noise, emotion, etc
a rapid increase, esp in a population
phonetics another word for plosion

Word Origin for explosion

C17: from Latin explōsiō, from explōdere to explode

Scientific definitions for explosion

explosion
[ ĭk-splōzhən ]

A violent blowing apart or bursting caused by energy released from a very fast chemical reaction, a nuclear reaction, or the escape of gases under pressure.