Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

explosion

 - 6 dictionary results

ex⋅plo⋅sion

  [ik-sploh-zhuhn]
Use explosion in a Sentence
–noun
1. an act or instance of exploding; a violent expansion or bursting with noise, as of gunpowder or a boiler (opposed to implosion ).
2. the noise itself: The loud explosion woke them.
3. a violent outburst, as of laughter or anger.
4. a sudden, rapid, or great increase: a population explosion.
5. the burning of the mixture of fuel and air in an internal-combustion engine.
6. Phonetics. plosion.
Origin:
1615–25; < L explōsiōn- (s. of explōsiō), equiv. to explōs(us) driven off by clapping (ptp. of explōdere to explode ) + -iōn- -ion

plo⋅sion

  [ploh-zhuhn]
–noun Phonetics.
the forced release of the occlusive phase of a plosive, whether voiceless or voiced, either audible due to frication or inaudible due to a contiguous following consonant. Also called explosion. Compare implosion (def. 2).
Origin:
1915–20; shortened form of explosion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To explosion
ex·plo·sion   (ĭk-splō'zhən)   
n.  

    1. A release of mechanical, chemical, or nuclear energy in a sudden and often violent manner with the generation of high temperature and usually with the release of gases.

    2. A violent bursting as a result of internal pressure.

    3. The loud, sharp sound made as a result of either of these actions.

  2. A sudden, often vehement outburst: an explosion of rage.

  3. A sudden, great increase: a population explosion; the explosion of illegal drug use.

  4. Linguistics See plosion.


[Latin explōsiō, explōsiōn-, a driving off, from explōsus, past participle of explōdere, to drive out by clapping; see explode.]
plo·sion   (plō'zhən)   
n.  

  1. The articulation of a plosive sound.

  2. The sudden release of occluded air characteristically occurring in the articulation of certain stop consonants. Also called explosion.


[From explosion.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

explosion 
1623, from Fr. explosion, from L. explosionem (nom. explosio), from explodere "drive out by clapping" (see explode for origin and sense evolution). Sense of "rapid increase or development" is first attested 1953. Explosive (n.) first attested 1874.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ex·plo·sion
Pronunciation: ik-'splO-zh&n
Function: noun
: the act or an instance of exploding
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see explosion on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way