1. to break open, apart, or into pieces usually from impact or from pressure from within
the balloon burst the pipes burst
2. to give way from an excess of emotion
my heart will burst
3. to give vent suddenly to a repressed emotion
burst into tears burst out laughing
4. to emerge or spring suddenly
burst out of the house burst onto the scene burst into flames
5. launch, plunge
burst into song
6. to be filled to the breaking point
bursting with excitement a crate bursting with fruit
7. to cause to burst
burst a balloon
8. to force open (something, such as a door or a way) by strong or vigorous action
9. to flood over
the river burst its banks
10. to produce by or as if by bursting
11. to be larger, fuller, or more crowded than could reasonably have been anticipated
12. a sudden outbreak
a burst of flames especially a vehement outburst (as of emotion)
13. explosion, eruption
a burst of violence
14. a sudden intense effort
a burst of speed
15. the duration of fire in one engagement of the mechanism of an automatic firearm
bursts of machine-gun fire
16. an act of bursting
the burst of a bubble a burst of confidence
17. a result of bursting
had the plumber fix the burst especially, firearms a visible puff accompanying the explosion of a shell (see shell entry 1 sense 9b)
18. to break open or into pieces in a sudden and violent way
19. to cause (something) to break open or into pieces
20. to open suddenly
21. a short period of producing or doing something that begins suddenly
22. an act of breaking open or into pieces the result of something breaking open or into pieces
23. to break open or in pieces (as by an explosion from within)
bombs bursting in air buds bursting open
24. to suddenly show emotion
He burst into tears.
25. to come or go suddenly
He burst into the room.
26. to be filled to the maximum
The puppy is bursting with energy.
27. a sudden release or effort
a burst of laughter a burst of energy