1A violent and destructive shattering or blowing apart of something, as is caused by a bomb.

1. 1.1technical A violent expansion in which energy is transmitted outward as a shock wave.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • When massive stars die, most of their energy is released as neutrinos in violent supernova explosions.
   • They carry a large fraction of the kinetic energy of the explosions of very massive stars.
   • If the energy from stellar explosions doesn't destroy them, ultraviolet light from nearby ultraluminous stars will.
   • They are cooler areas and tend to erupt in gigantic explosions sending a tremendous amount of radiation towards the earth.
   • The researchers also plan to measure the speed of the explosion's shock wave to get further data.

   Synonyms

   detonation, discharge, burst, eruption
2. 1.2 A sudden outburst of something such as noise, light, or violent emotion, especially anger.
   an explosion of anger

   Example sentencesExamples

   • In an explosion of emotions, I broke down and cried.
   • The same explosion of public anger and immediate calls for improved safety followed the deaths of 31 people in the rail crash in October last year.
   • From the beginning the relationship was volatile, with constant emotional explosions.
   • The heavy explosion of hatred, anger, hurt, confusion and… some deeply hidden terror struck her like an A-bomb.
   • Isolation led to claustrophobia led to sudden explosions of violence.
   • Finding oneself faced by danger, difficulties, sudden outburst or an explosion of anger, one shouldn't react quickly.
   • City officials are worried that another horrific police killing could provoke an explosion of popular anger given the deepening social crisis in New York.
   • As the energy swirled about him, he marvelled at the sudden explosion of power that surged through his veins.
   • Constantly downing cans of beer, he only relates to his son with silence, self-hatred, and sudden explosions of violence.
   • The strong emphasis on peaceful conduct and emotional control can result in explosions of violent behavior under the influence of alcohol.
   • The riots were an explosion of raw anger against the racism and brutality of the police, and the continued denial of basic civil rights.
   • The first signs that all is not well may be anything from a slow escalation of irritable behaviour to a sudden explosion of violence.
   • Described as powerful, domineering and charismatic, he alternated affection with explosions of anger that terrified children and staff.
   • We do not particularly approve of the explosions of anger.
   • Nero had to quickly prepare himself for the explosion of anger that was to come.
   • The recent explosion of popular anger comes after centuries of misrule.
   • It is an explosion of emotions and, by the end of the show, she is left sweating and gasping for breath.
   • The protests were explosions of anger in which typically anywhere between 500 and 1,000 protesters blocked busy roads with burning barricades.
   • This provoked an explosion of anger by rank-and-file workers.
   • Jason couldn't understand her sudden explosion of anger and he knew there had to be more to what was bothering her than the spider prank.

   Synonyms

   outburst, flare-up, blow-up, outbreak, eruption, storm, rush, spate, surge, rash, wave, access, effusion
3. 1.3 A sudden political or social upheaval.
   there will have to be sweeping changes if the political leaders want to avoid an explosion

   Example sentencesExamples

   • But they are concerned - and rightly so - that an attempt to call off the November election could produce a social and political explosion.
   • A political explosion happened this weekend in New York, and it may be the big one that gives some in the government nightmares.
   • Many still see the danger of a social explosion even if the government appears to have regained the upper hand over the rebels for now.
   • He expressed the concern that if redundancy money were simply spent on necessities, there would be a social explosion waiting to happen when that money ran out.
   • Many agree on one point: If no action is taken, the country runs the risk of a social explosion.
   • The brain drain of the late 1960s was a harbinger of the social explosion or the February Revolution of 1970.
   • The deputies blamed him for instigating a social explosion through his law-and-order policies and provocative statements.
   • Even more important, as far as Western capitalist interests are concerned, is the threat of social and political explosions in huge areas of the world.
   • The outcome of the approaching political explosions will depend decisively on the degree to which this new perspective gains influence.
   • That negative view persists because the burning issues thrown up in the course of the social explosions are never resolved.
   • If push ever came to shove, and there was a social explosion, I have little doubt that the Declaration of the Rights of Man would have little influence on the official response.
   • The post 1966 government achieved initial economic success and then collapsed in an explosion of social protest.
   • At the same time, the regime is desperate to avoid a social explosion.
   • Within the ruling elite, there are fears that re-establishment of conscription under the present circumstances would lead to a political explosion.
   • Even though there are many peaceful and democratic people, it is too difficult to stop a social explosion.
   • It indicates that the ruling elite fears a social explosion.
   • Because of its size, complexity and potential for igniting international political explosions, this case is already creating drama.
   • This is a city of massive contradictions, and you can see why the wealthy are fearful of social explosions.
   • The fear of a social explosion goes a long way to explain the crass media manipulation of the current changing of the guard at New York's City Hall.
   • The protests will prove to be a dress rehearsal compared with greater social explosions that will occur in the future.
4. 1.4 A rapid or sudden increase in amount or extent.
   an explosion in the adder population

   Example sentencesExamples

   • An explosion in scrap steel prices during the first quarter got the ball rolling with huge price increases for almost every construction product made of steel.
   • Framed by the two world wars, this was a fascinating period with an explosion of political, artistic and cultural movements that still resonate with us today.
   • There has been an exponential explosion in the financial planning industry, a whole industry dedicated to making people wealthy.
   • Directly, the explosion in house prices and the sustained increases in rents is driving up the cost of living and exerting pressure on pay demands.
   • As we may well be on the verge of an explosion in metals prices, you should be making your investments accordingly.
   • This adds to the severe problems of a market on the knife's edge of a price explosion.
   • These developments were the beginning of the technology which has grown exponentially towards its modern explosion.
   • The growing realisation that computer skills can make or break people's future prospects may have helped to explain the explosion in popularity of information technology.
   • Since 1953 there has been a virtual explosion in the amount of information about the structure and function of DNA.
   • Improving medical technology alone has led to an explosion in the amount of treatment and surgery that's not only possible, but deemed to be necessary.
   • The early 80s saw an explosion in political button badges but since then, button badge manufacturing has gone into steady decline.
   • There has been an explosion in the amount of legal advertising on television in the last decade or so.
   • Wine from the United States has seen a similar explosion in sales, increasing from £33.4m to almost £309m.
   • An explosion in property prices could follow in the second and third quarters.
   • There is concern the explosion in steel prices will push general inflation.
   • There was no sudden explosion in prices or availability of petrol at the pumps.
   • But if not, then there could be a sulfurous explosion of political animosity.
   • There is no precedent in Irish history for the explosion in property prices, both residential and commercial, over the past decade.
   • The slow accretion of shanty towns to the shell of the city is punctuated by storms of poverty and sudden explosions of slum-building.
   • I am convinced that we are approaching a bifurcation of similar magnitude that is connected to the explosion of information technology.

   Synonyms

   sudden increase, rapid increase, dramatic increase, mushrooming, snowballing, escalation, multiplication, burgeoning, rocketing, shooting up
5. 1.5Phonetics
   another term for plosion