eruption

/əˈrʌpʃɪn/

/ɛˈrʌpʃən/

Other forms: eruptions

An eruption is an explosion of steam and lava from a volcano. This word is also used for other explosions, such as "an eruption of emotions."

If there's an eruption of a volcano, you don't want to be anywhere near it. When a volcano erupts, it spews a huge amount of lava, ash, and steam into the air. If you were angry at a friend but held your tongue for a long time, then suddenly started yelling in anger, that's an eruption too. The sudden spreading of a disease could be called an eruption. Eruptions are quick, huge, explosive, and dangerous: they're never good news.

Definitions of eruption

1. noun

   the sudden occurrence of a violent discharge of steam and volcanic material
   synonyms: volcanic eruption

   types:

   Plinian eruption

   a volcanic eruption in which a stream of gas and ash is violently ejected to a height of several miles

   type of:

   discharge

   the sudden giving off of energy
2. noun

   (of volcanos) pouring out fumes or lava (or a deposit so formed)
   synonyms: eructation, extravasation

   type of:

   action, activeness, activity

   the state of being active
3. noun

   symptom consisting of a breaking out and becoming visible
   types:

   Kaposi's varicelliform eruption, eczema vaccinatum

   a now rare complication of vaccinia superimposed on atopic dermatitis with high fever and generalized vesicles and papulovesicles

   enanthem, enanthema

   eruption on a mucous membrane (as the inside of the mouth) occurring as a symptom of a disease

   exanthem, exanthema, skin eruption

   eruption on the skin occurring as a symptom of a disease

   efflorescence, rash, roseola, skin rash

   any red eruption of the skin

   heat rash, miliaria, prickly heat

   obstruction of the sweat ducts during high heat and humidity

   hives, nettle rash, urticaria, urtication

   an itchy skin eruption characterized by weals with pale interiors and well-defined red margins; usually the result of an allergic response to insect bites or food or drugs

   type of:

   symptom

   (medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease
4. noun

   the emergence of a tooth as it breaks through the gum
   type of:

   egress, emergence, issue

   the becoming visible
5. noun

   a sudden violent spontaneous occurrence (usually of some undesirable condition)
   synonyms: epidemic, irruption, outbreak

   types:

   epidemic

   a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time

   recrudescence

   a return of something after a period of abatement

   pandemic

   an epidemic that is geographically widespread; occurring throughout a region or even throughout the world

   type of:

   happening, natural event, occurrence, occurrent

   an event that happens
6. noun

   a sudden, loud sound
   synonyms: bam, bang, blast, clap

   types:

   water hammer

   the banging sound of steam in pipes

   type of:

   noise

   sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)