burst

To break open suddenly because of pressure inside.

• The balloon burst.
• A water pipe burst during the night.
• Be careful not to burst the bag.

Similar words: pop, rupture

Common phrases: burst a balloon, burst open, burst pipe

To suddenly start doing something or enter a new state.

• She burst into tears.
• The engine burst into flames.
• Everyone burst out laughing at his joke.

How to use it: burst into something (The tree burst into bloom.); burst out doing something (He burst out crying.)

Similar words: erupt

Common phrases: burst into tears, burst into flames, burst into bloom

To separate printed sheets by tearing along lines of small holes.

• Burst the sheets along the dotted lines.
• She burst the printed forms before sorting them.
• This machine bursts continuous paper into separate sheets.

Similar words: separate

Common phrases: burst the sheets, burst printed forms

A short, sudden period of strong feeling, sound, or activity.

• I felt a burst of energy.
• Her speech ended with a burst of applause.
• He works in short bursts throughout the day.

How to use it: burst of something (A burst of laughter came from the kitchen.); in bursts (Rain fell in short bursts.)

Similar words: outburst, spurt

Common phrases: burst of energy, burst of laughter, short burst

A sudden explosion of a bomb or similar weapon.

• The burst shook the windows.
• Smoke rose after the shell burst.
• Several distant bursts lit up the sky.

Similar words: explosion, blast

Common phrases: shell burst, air burst, bomb burst

An occasion when something breaks open suddenly from pressure inside.

• A pipe burst flooded the kitchen.
• Several bursts damaged the old water main.
• We heard a loud pop at the balloon’s burst.

Similar words: rupture

Common phrases: pipe burst, sudden burst