burst open Definition

burst
verb burst, bursting

tr & intr
1. To break or fly open or into pieces, usually suddenly and violently.

Thesaurus: blow up, explode, erupt, fragment, shatter, split, tear apart, come to pieces, disintegrate, break, crack, rupture, spring a leak.
intr
2. To make one's way suddenly or violently into or out of it, etc.

Example: burst into the room
Form: burst in (especially)
Form: burst into somewhere or something
Form: burst out of somewhere or something
intr
3. To appear suddenly in (a specified circle or area) and be immediately important or noteworthy.

Example: burst on to the political scene
Form: burst on to something (usually)
intr
4a. To be completely full;

Form: be bursting (usually)
Form: be bursting at the seams (also)
intr
4b. To break open; to overflow, etc;

Example: My suitcase is bursting
Form: be bursting (usually)
intr
4c. To be overflowing with or unable to contain (one's excitement, vitality, anger or other emotion).

Form: be bursting (usually)
Form: be bursting with something
5. technical
To tear apart the perforated sheets of (continuous stationery).

noun

1. An instance of bursting or breaking open. Often in compounds.

Example: a tyre-burst
2. The place where something has burst or broken open, or the hole or break, etc made by it bursting.
3. A sudden, brief or violent period of some activity, eg speed, gunfire, applause, laughter.

Thesaurus: blast, torrent, surge, spurt, rush, outbreak, discharge.

Idiom: burst into flames

To begin burning suddenly and violently.

Idiom: burst into song

To begin singing, especially suddenly or unexpectedly.

Idiom: burst into tears

To begin weeping suddenly or unexpectedly.

Idiom: burst open

Usually said of a door: to open suddenly and violently.

Idiom: burst out laughing

To begin laughing suddenly or unexpectedly.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon berstan.