Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Burst?

\Burst\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Burst}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bursting}. The past participle bursten is obsolete.] [OE. bersten, bresten, AS. berstan (pers. sing. berste, imp. sing. b[ae]rst, imp. pl. burston, p. p. borsten); akin to D. bersten, G. bersten, OHG. brestan, OS. brestan, Icel. bresta, Sw. brista, Dan. briste. Cf. {Brast}, {Break}.] 1. To fly apart or in pieces; of break open; to yield to force or pressure, especially to a sudden and violent exertion of force, or to pressure from within; to explode; as, the boiler had burst; the buds will burst in spring. From the egg that soon Bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosed Their callow young. --Milton. Note: Often used figuratively, as of the heart, in reference to a surcharge of passion, grief, desire, etc. No, no, my heart will burst, an if I speak: And I will speak, that so my heart may burst. --Shak. 2. To exert force or pressure by which something is made suddenly to give way; to break through obstacles or limitations; hence, to appear suddenly and unexpectedly or unaccountably, or to depart in such manner; -- usually with some qualifying adverb or preposition, as forth, out, away, into, upon, through, etc. Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth. --Milton. And now you burst (ah cruel!) from my arms. --Pope. A resolved villain Whose bowels suddenly burst out. --Shak. We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea. --Coleridge. To burst upon him like an earthquake. --Goldsmith.
\Burst\ (b[^u]rst), v. t. 1. To break or rend by violence, as by an overcharge or by strain or pressure, esp. from within; to force open suddenly; as, to burst a cannon; to burst a blood vessel; to burst open the doors. My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage. --Shak. 2. To break. [Obs.] You will not pay for the glasses you have burst? --Shak. He burst his lance against the sand below. --Fairfax (Tasso). 3. To produce as an effect of bursting; as, to burst a hole through the wall. {Bursting charge}. See under {Charge}.
\Burst\, n. 1. A sudden breaking forth; a violent rending; an explosion; as, a burst of thunder; a burst of applause; a burst of passion; a burst of inspiration. Bursts of fox-hunting melody. --W. Irving. 2. Any brief, violent exertion or effort; a spurt; as, a burst of speed. 3. A sudden opening, as of landscape; a stretch; an expanse. [R.] ``A fine burst of country.'' --Jane Austen. 4. A rupture or hernia; a breach.