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   explosion

   /ɪkˈspləʊʒn/

   noun

   • 1. a violent shattering or blowing apart of something, as is caused by a bomb: "three explosions damaged buildings at the barracks" Similar detonationdischargeeruptionblowing upignitionbangblastboomrumblecrashcrackreportthunderrollclappopinformal:whamwhumpliterary:fulmination
   • ▪ a violent expansion in which energy is transmitted outwards as a shock wave. technical
   • 2. a sudden outburst of something such as violent emotion, especially anger: "an explosion of anger inside the factory" Similar outburstflare-upblow-upoutbreakeruptionstormrushspatesurgerashwaveaccesseffusionfitparoxysmspasmattackspellinformal:paddyrare:ebullitionboutade
   • ▪ a sudden political or social upheaval: "there will have to be sweeping changes if the political leaders want to avoid an explosion"
   • 3. a sudden increase in amount or extent: "an explosion in the adder population" Similar sudden increaserapid increasedramatic increasemushroomingsnowballingescalationmultiplicationburgeoningrocketingshooting up

   Word Origin early 17th century: from Latin explosio(n-) ‘scornful rejection’, from the verb explodere (see explode).

   Scrabble Points: 18

   • E

     1

   • X

     8

   • P

     3

   • L

     1

   • O

     1

   • S

     1

   • I

     1

   • O

     1

   • N

     1

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