Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To throw or force something out violently, as lava, ash, and gases.
  • intransitive verb To be thrown or forced out.
  • intransitive verb To develop suddenly.
  • intransitive verb To express oneself suddenly and loudly.
  • intransitive verb To break through the gums in developing. Used of teeth.
  • intransitive verb To appear on the skin. Used of a rash or blemish.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To burst forth suddenly and violently; break or belch out; send forth matter.
  • To throw out suddenly and with great violence; emit violently; cast out, as lava from a volcano; belch.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To cause to burst forth; to eject.
  • intransitive verb To eject something, esp. lava, water, etc., as a volcano or geyser.
  • intransitive verb To burst forth; to break out, as ashes from a volcano, teeth through the gums, etc.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb to violently eject
  • verb figuratively to spontaneously release pressure or tension

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb become active and spew forth lava and rocks
  • verb appear on the skin
  • verb start abruptly
  • verb force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
  • verb break out
  • verb become raw or open
  • verb erupt or intensify suddenly
  • verb start to burn or burst into flames

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin ērumpere, ērupt- : ē-, ex-, ex- + rumpere, to break; see reup- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin eruptus, past participle of ērumpō ("to break out (of), to burst out (from)"), from e ("out") + rumpō ("to break").

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Examples

  • I felt I provided a fairly good foundation for a vibrant discussion, even if sticky aspects would naturally erupt from the topic I attempted to suggest.

    Cheeseburger Gothic » Sweet jeebus, lookit this mess! 2009

  • He is nibbling on spoonfuls of cottage cheese when shouts erupt from the car next to his.

    POLITICAL HOT TOPICS: August 17, 2009 2009

  • The film runs a gamut of intense emotions that erupt from the screen at every turn.

    Flixnjoystix.com! » 2007 » October 2007

  • The situation is still very volatile, and can once again erupt into terrible violence, but the logjam that was consecrated in Mecca, does appear to have been cleared.

    Matthew Yglesias » Does This Help? 2007

  • The film runs a gamut of intense emotions that erupt from the screen at every turn.

    Flixnjoystix.com! » Bobert’s 31 Days of Horror Continues! Day 2! 2007

  • Creatures extrude or vent eggs; larvae fatten, split their shells, and eat them; spores dissolve or explode; root hairs multiply, corn puffs on the stalk, grass yields seed, shoots erupt from the earth turgid and sheathed; wet muskrats, rabbits, and squirrels slide into the sunlight, mewling and blind; and everywhere watery cells divide and swell, swell and divide.

    Nature & Environment 2006

  • I'm wondering if you or anybody else in here has some thoughts on how to make sure the criticism that's certain to erupt is pointed directly at Sims where it rightly belongs and not squandered by targeting the skeleton crew of hapless victims down there trying to keep Elections afloat?

    Sound Politics: Ward of the State 2006

  • Creatures extrude or vent eggs; larvae fatten, split their shells, and eat them; spores dissolve or explode; root hairs multiply, corn puffs on the stalk, grass yields seed, shoots erupt from the earth turgid and sheathed; wet muskrats, rabbits, and squirrels slide into the sunlight, mewling and blind; and everywhere watery cells divide and swell, swell and divide.

    Nature & Environment 2006

  • Several days later, when the seedling erupt from the soil, they are excited and several weeks later they read and learn how to harvest the fruits and vegetables and the entire family benefits from their harvest at mealtimes.

    Homeschooling On the Road – How It Works 2004

  • By Charles Krupa, AP Game 3 starting pitcher Derek Lowe, left, and the rest of the Red Sox erupt from the dugout after Nixon's 11th-inning home run.

    USATODAY.com - Nixon's homer in 11th inning keeps Red Sox alive 2003

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