burst

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /bɜːst/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /bɜrst/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form burst

Third person singular bursts

Simple past burst

Past participle burst

Present participle bursting

1. (transitive & intransitive) If something bursts, it breaks open because of pressure from the inside.

   I was driving west on the highway, when my front left tire burst.

   When the bell rang, the school door burst open and the children came out running.

2. The past tense and past participle of burst.

Noun

Singular burst

Plural bursts

1. (countable) A burst is an explosion or blast.

   There was a burst of laughter from the audience when the clown slipped on the banana peel.

   A burst of brilliant music greeted the newlyweds when they walked into the ball room.