explode */*/

UK [ɪkˈspləʊd] / US [ɪkˈsploʊd] verb
Word forms "explode":
present tense I/you/we/they explode he/she/it explodes present participle exploding past tense exploded past participle exploded

1) [intransitive] to burst with a lot of force and a loud noise

Bombs were exploding all over the city.

a) [transitive] to make something burst with a lot of force and a loud noise

Terrorists have exploded bombs across the country.

b) [intransitive] literary to make a sudden loud noise

Thunder exploded over the meadow.

•

Collocations:
Nouns frequently used as subjects of explode
▪  bomb, device, firework, grenade, shell

2) [intransitive] to express strong emotions in a sudden, noisy, and often violent way

When I told Ian that Maggie had refused to come, he simply exploded.

explode in/with:

She suddenly exploded with rage, and stormed off.

explode into:

The room exploded into uproar when the fire alarm went off.

3) [intransitive] to increase a lot in size, amount, or importance over a very short period of time

The increased availability of food has caused the deer population to explode.

Investment in technology stocks exploded in the 1990s.

4) [transitive] to prove that a story or theory that many people believe is in fact false

Scientists wanted to explode the myth of a monster living in the lake.

5)

a) [intransitive] to move very quickly

A group of youths exploded out of the door.

explode into:

Suddenly, behind her, the stage explodes into life.

b) to change very quickly into a new state