explosion

explosion

ex‧plo‧sion W3 /ɪkˈspləʊʒən $ -ˈsploʊ-/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: adjective: exploding, ↑explosive, ↑exploded, ↑unexploded; noun: ↑explosion, ↑explosive; verb: ↑explode; adverb: ↑explosively]
1. [countable] a loud sound and the energy produced by something such as a bomb bursting into small pieces ⇨ explode
bomb/gas/nuclear explosion
Several people were injured in a bomb explosion.
We heard a loud explosion.
huge/massive etc explosion
A massive explosion ripped through the building.
2. [uncountable and countable] a process in which something such as a bomb is deliberately made to explode:
Police carried out a controlled explosion of the device.
3. [countable] a sudden or quick increase in the number or amount of something:
the population explosion in India
explosion of
the recent explosion of interest in Latin music and dance
4. [countable] a sudden expression of emotion, especially anger SYN outburst
5. [countable] a sudden very loud noise
explosion of
an explosion of laughter
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + explosion
▪ a big explosion There has been a big explosion in the centre of Paris.
▪ a huge/massive/enormous explosion An enormous explosion tore the roof off the building.
▪ a tremendous explosion (=very big and powerful) The torpedo struck the side of the ship, followed by a tremendous explosion.
▪ a powerful explosion The powerful explosion was heard from Portland, Maine to Albany, New York.
▪ a major explosion formal We are getting reports of a major explosion at the oil refinery.
▪ a loud explosion We heard several loud explosions followed by an eerie silence.
▪ a deafening explosion (=extremely loud) The building collapsed in a deafening explosion.
▪ an almighty explosion old-fashioned (=extremely loud) There was an almighty explosion and I was knocked to the ground.
▪ a muffled explosion (=one that is not heard very clearly) We could just make out a muffled explosion from deep inside the mine.
▪ a nuclear/atomic explosion This is the site of the first ever nuclear explosion.
▪ a gas explosion Firefighters say that a gas explosion destroyed the building.
▪ a volcanic explosion (=one caused by a volcano) You could see where a volcanic explosion had blown the mountain peak away.
■ verbs
▪ cause an explosion The police do not yet know what caused the explosion.
▪ set off/trigger an explosion (=cause an explosion) Investigators believe a fuel leak may have triggered the explosion.
▪ carry out an explosion (=cause one deliberately) By 1942, the United States had carried out test explosions with nuclear bombs.
▪ hear an explosion Marie was reading in bed when she heard the explosion.
▪ an explosion takes place/happens The largest explosion took place at the main post office.
▪ an explosion occurs formal The explosion occurred just off the coast of Greece.
▪ an explosion shakes something A series of explosions shook the building.
▪ an explosion destroys something Seven people died when the explosion destroyed the bus.
▪ an explosion kills somebody Last year, an underground explosion killed 82 miners.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + explosion
▪ a sudden explosion Henry thought she was going to laugh, but then there was a sudden explosion of sobbing.
▪ a population explosion The decision not to plant the fields led to a population explosion in rabbits.
■ phrases
▪ an explosion of interest in something There has been an explosion of interest in networking websites in the last few years.
▪ an explosion of violence The army had to cope with the explosion of violence that followed the elections.
▪ an explosion of anger The verdict was greeted by an explosion of public anger.
▪ an explosion of colour literary After the rain, the desert bloomed in an explosion of color.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ a very big increase
▪ explosion noun [countable] a sudden very large increase in the amount or number of something: There has been an explosion in the number of fast food restaurants. | The country experienced a population explosion. | The book caused an explosion of interest in Renaissance Italy.
▪ boom noun [singular] a sudden large increase in trade, profits or sales, with the result that a country, company, or industry becomes very successful. Boom is also used about a sudden increase in interest in something, with the result that it becomes very popular: the German economic boom of the 1960s | the Internet boom | There has been a boom in sales of diet books and videos.