Burst vs. Explode — What's the Difference?

Break open or apart suddenly and violently, especially as a result of an impact or internal pressure

To expand outward suddenly and usually violently due to the force of internal pressure or the release of chemical or nuclear energy

Issue suddenly and uncontrollably

To burst violently as a result of such expansion.

Suddenly begin doing or producing something

To shatter with a loud noise

Separate (continuous stationery) into single sheets.

To make an emotional outburst

An instance of breaking or splitting as a result of internal pressure or puncturing; an explosion

To increase suddenly, sharply, and without control

A sudden brief outbreak

To change state or appearance suddenly

A period of continuous and intense effort

(Sports) To hit a golf ball out of a sand trap with a shot that scatters the sand.

To come open or fly apart suddenly or violently, especially from internal pressure.

To cause to release energy or burst violently and noisily

To explode.

To show to be false or unreliable

To be or seem to be full to the point of breaking open

(Sports) To hit (a golf ball) out of a sand trap with an explosive shot.

To emerge, come forth, or arrive suddenly

(transitive) To destroy with an explosion.

To come apart or seem to come apart because of overwhelming emotion

(transitive) To destroy violently or abruptly.

To give sudden utterance or expression

(transitive) To create an exploded view of.

To cause to burst

To disprove or debunk.

To exert strong pressure in order to force (something) open.

(intransitive) To fly apart with sudden violent force; to blow up, to burst, to detonate, to go off.

To separate (a continuous form or printout) into individual sheets.

To make a violent or emotional outburst.

The result of bursting, especially the explosion of a projectile or bomb on impact or in the air.

To increase suddenly.

The number of bullets fired from an automatic weapon by one pull of the trigger.

To ejaculate.

A volley of bullets fired from an automatic weapon

To break (a delimited string of text) into several smaller strings by removing the separators.

A sudden, intense display of activity or emotion

To decompress (data) that was previously imploded.

An abrupt, intense increase; a rush

(transitive) To open all doors and hatches on an automobile.

A period of intense activity

Of a die, to produce the highest face result and consequently reroll.

(intransitive) To break from internal pressure.

To become suddenly expanded into a great volume of gas or vapor; to burst violently into flame; as, gunpowder explodes.

(transitive) To cause to break from internal pressure.

To burst with force and a loud report; to detonate, as a shell filled with powder or the like material, or as a boiler from too great pressure of steam.

To cause to break by any means.

To burst forth with sudden violence and noise; as, at this, his wrath exploded.

(transitive) To separate (printer paper) at perforation lines.

To drive from the stage by noisy expressions of disapprobation; to hoot off; to drive away or reject noisily; as, to explode a play.

(intransitive) To enter or exit hurriedly and unexpectedly.

To bring into disrepute, and reject; to drive from notice and acceptance; as, to explode a scheme, fashion, or doctrine.

(intransitive) To erupt; to change state suddenly as if bursting.

To cause to explode or burst noisily; to detonate; as, to explode powder by touching it with fire.

(transitive) To produce as an effect of bursting.

To drive out with violence and noise, as by powder.

(transitive) To interrupt suddenly in a violent or explosive manner; to shatter.

Cause to explode;

An act or instance of bursting.

Burst outward, usually with noise;

A sudden, often intense, expression, manifestation or display.

Show a violent emotional reaction;

A series of shots fired from an automatic firearm.

Be unleashed; burst forth with violence or noise;

(military) The explosion of a bomb or missile.

Destroy by exploding;

(archaic) A drinking spree.

Cause to burst as a result of air pressure; of stop consonants like /p/, /t/, and /k/

To fly apart or in pieces; of break open; to yield to force or pressure, especially to a sudden and violent exertion of force, or to pressure from within; to explode; as, the boiler had burst; the buds will burst in spring.

Drive from the stage by noisy disapproval

To exert force or pressure by which something is made suddenly to give way; to break through obstacles or limitations; hence, to appear suddenly and unexpectedly or unaccountably, or to depart in such manner; - usually with some qualifying adverb or preposition, as forth, out, away, into, upon, through, etc.

Show (a theory or claim) to be baseless, or refute and make obsolete

To break or rend by violence, as by an overcharge or by strain or pressure, esp. from within; to force open suddenly; as, to burst a cannon; to burst a blood vessel; to burst open the doors.

Increase rapidly and in an uncontrolled manner;

To break.

To produce as an effect of bursting; as, to burst a hole through the wall.

A sudden breaking forth; a violent rending; an explosion; as, a burst of thunder; a burst of applause; a burst of passion; a burst of inspiration.

Any brief, violent exertion or effort; a spurt; as, a burst of speed.

A sudden opening, as of landscape; a stretch; an expanse.

A rupture or hernia; a breach.

The act of exploding or bursting something;

Rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms;

A sudden flurry of activity (often for no obvious reason);

A sudden violent happening;

Break open or apart suddenly;

Force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up;

Burst outward, usually with noise;

Move suddenly, energetically, or violently;

Be in a state of movement or action;

Emerge suddenly;

Cause to burst;

Break open or apart suddenly and forcefully;

Suddenly and violently broken open especially from internal pressure (`busted' is an informal term for `burst');