explode

v. blow up; be blown up; shatter

An explosion is a sudden increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner, usually with the generation of high temperatures and the release of gases.The most common artificial explosives are chemical explosives, usually involving a rapid and violent oxidation reaction that produces large amounts of hot gas. Gunpowder was the first explosive to be discovered and put to use. Other notable early developments in chemical explosive technology were Frederick Augustus Abel's development of nitrocellulose (guncotton) in 1865 and Alfred Nobel's invention of dynamite (stabilized nitroglycerin) in 1866. See the article on explosive material for more detail on chemical explosives. A new order of explosive, the nuclear bomb, was invented in 1945 by Allied scientists. In 1952, the US military developed the first fusion bomb. Boiling liquid expanding vapour explosions are a type of explosion that can occur when a vessel containing a pressurized liquid is ruptured, causing a rapid increase in volume as the liquid evaporates. A high current electrical fault can create an electrical explosion by forming a high energy electrical arc which rapidly vaporizes metal and insulation material. Also, excessive magnetic pressure within an ultra-strong electromagnet can cause a magnetic explosion.
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Verb
1. cause to explode; "We exploded the nuclear bomb"
(synonym) detonate, blow up, set off
(hypernym) change integrity
(hyponym) fulminate
(cause) burst
(derivation) explosion, burst
2. burst outward, usually with noise; "The champagne bottle exploded"
(synonym) burst
(antonym) implode, go off
(hypernym) change integrity
(hyponym) detonate
(derivation) explosion, burst
3. show a violent emotional reaction; "The boss exploded when he heard of the resignation of the secretary"
(hypernym) react, respond
4. be unleashed; burst forth with violence or noise; "His anger exploded"
(synonym) burst forth, break loose
(hypernym) change state, turn
(derivation) explosion
5. destroy by exploding; "The enemy exploded the bridge"
(hypernym) destroy, ruin
6. cause to burst as a result of air pressure; of stop consonants like /p/, /t/, and /k/
(hypernym) pronounce, articulate, enounce, sound out, enunciate, say
(derivation) plosion, explosion
7. drive from the stage by noisy disapproval
(hypernym) condemn
(entail) boo, hiss
8. show (a theory or claim) to be baseless, or refute and make obsolete
(hypernym) disprove, confute
9. increase rapidly and in an uncontrolled manner; "The population of India is exploding"; "The island's rodent population irrupted"
(synonym) irrupt
(hypernym) increase
(derivation) explosion

v. explode, fulminate; blast, burst; go

(v. t.)
To drive out with violence and noise, as by powder.
  

(v. t.)
To drive from the stage by noisy expressions of disapprobation; to hoot off; to drive away or reject noisily; as, to explode a play.
  

(v. t.)
To cause to explode or burst noisily; to detonate; as, to explode powder by touching it with fire.
  

(v. t.)
To bring into disrepute, and reject; to drive from notice and acceptance; as, to explode a scheme, fashion, or doctrine.
  

(v. i.)
To burst with force and a loud report; to detonate, as a shell filled with powder or the like material, or as a boiler from too great pressure of steam.
  

(v. i.)
To burst forth with sudden violence and noise; as, at this, his wrath exploded.
  

(v. i.)
To become suddenly expanded into a great volume of gas or vapor; to burst violently into flame; as gunpowder explodes.