Definitions

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

  • intransitive verb To flow forth suddenly in great volume.
  • intransitive verb To emit a sudden and abundant flow, as of tears.
  • intransitive verb To make an excessive display of sentiment or enthusiasm.
  • intransitive verb To emit abundantly; pour forth.
  • noun A sudden copious outflow.
  • noun Excessively demonstrative language or behavior.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To issue with force and volume, as a fluid from confinement; flow suddenly or copiously; come pouring out, as water from a spring or blood from a wound.
  • Hence To speak effusively or from a sudden emotional impulse; be extravagantly and effusively sentimental.
  • To emit suddenly, forcibly, or copiously.
  • noun A sudden and violent emission of a fluid from confinement; outpouring of or as of a liquid.
  • noun Effusive display of sentiment.

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

  • intransitive verb To issue with violence and rapidity, as a fluid; to rush forth as a fluid from confinement; to flow copiously.
  • intransitive verb colloq. To make a sentimental or untimely exhibition of affection; to display enthusiasm in a silly, demonstrative manner.
  • transitive verb A sudden and violent issue of a fluid from an inclosed plase; an emission of a liquid in a large quantity, and with force; the fluid thus emitted; a rapid outpouring of anything.
  • transitive verb Collog. A sentimental exhibition of affection or enthusiasm, etc.; effusive display of sentiment.

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

  • noun A sudden rapid outflow.
  • verb To flow forth suddenly, in great volume.
  • verb To make an excessive display of enthusiasm or sentiment.

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

  • verb issue in a jet; come out in a jet; stream or spring forth
  • verb gush forth in a sudden stream or jet
  • noun a sudden rapid flow (as of water)
  • verb praise enthusiastically
  • noun an unrestrained expression of emotion

Etymologies

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

[Middle English gushen, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; see gheu- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

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