Burst vs. Flare — What's the Difference?

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

A flare, also sometimes called a fusée, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a bright light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for distress signaling, illumination, or defensive countermeasures in civilian and military applications.

Issue suddenly and uncontrollably

To flame up with a bright, wavering light.

Suddenly begin doing or producing something

To burst into intense, sudden flame.

Separate (continuous stationery) into single sheets.

To erupt or intensify suddenly

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

To become suddenly angry. Used with up

A sudden brief outbreak

To make a sudden angry verbal attack. Used with out

A period of continuous and intense effort

To expand or open outward in shape

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

To cause to flame up.

To explode.

To signal with a blaze of light.

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

A brief wavering blaze of light.

To emerge, come forth, or arrive suddenly

A device that produces a bright light for signaling, illumination, or identification.

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

An outbreak, as of emotion or activity.

To give sudden utterance or expression

An expanding or opening outward.

To cause to burst

An unwanted reflection within an optical system or the resultant fogging of the image.

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

A solar flare.

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

(Football) A short pass to a back running toward the sideline.

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

(Baseball) A fly ball hit a short distance into the outfield.

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

An area of redness on the skin surrounding the primary site of infection or irritation.

A volley of bullets fired from an automatic weapon

A sudden worsening of the symptoms of a disease or condition

A sudden, intense display of activity or emotion

A sudden bright light.

An abrupt, intense increase; a rush

A source of brightly burning light or intense heat.

A period of intense activity

A type of pyrotechnic that produces a brilliant light without an explosion, used to attract attention in an emergency, to illuminate an area, or as a decoy.

(intransitive) To break from internal pressure.

(oil industry) A flame produced by a burn-off of waste gas (flare gas) from a flare tower (or flare stack), typically at an oil refinery.

(transitive) To cause to break from internal pressure.

(figuratively) A sudden eruption or outbreak; a flare-up.

To cause to break by any means.

A widening of an object with an otherwise roughly constant width.

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

(nautical) The increase in width of most ship hulls with increasing height above the waterline.

(intransitive) To enter or exit hurriedly and unexpectedly.

(in plural) Bell-bottom trousers.

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

(aviation) The transition from downward flight to level flight just before landing.

(transitive) To produce as an effect of bursting.

(baseball) A low fly ball that is hit in the region between the infielders and the outfielders.

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

(American football) A route run by the running back, releasing toward the sideline and then slightly arcing upfield looking for a short pass.

An act or instance of bursting.

(photography) lens flare

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

An inflammation such as of tendons (tendonitis) or joints (osteoarthritis).

A series of shots fired from an automatic firearm.

A breakdance move of someone helicoptering his torso on alternating arms.

(military) The explosion of a bomb or missile.

(transitive) To cause to burn; in particular, to burn off excess gas (flare gas).

(archaic) A drinking spree.

(transitive) To cause inflammation; to inflame.

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.

(ambitransitive) To open outward in shape.

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.

To (operate an aircraft to) transition from downward flight to level flight just before landing.

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.

(intransitive) To blaze brightly.

To break.

(intransitive) To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling or painfully bright light.

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

To shine out with gaudy colours; to be offensively bright or showy.

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.

To suddenly happen or intensify.

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

To suddenly erupt in anger.

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

To be exposed to too much light.

A rupture or hernia; a breach.

To burn with an unsteady or waving flame; as, the candle flares.

The act of exploding or bursting something;

To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling or painfully bright light.

Rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms;

To shine out with gaudy colors; to flaunt; to be offensively bright or showy.

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

To be exposed to too much light.

A sudden violent happening;

To open or spread outwards; to project beyond the perpendicular; as, the sides of a bowl flare; the bows of a ship flare.

Break open or apart suddenly;

An unsteady, broad, offensive light.

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

A spreading outward; as, the flare of a fireplace.

Burst outward, usually with noise;

A defect in a photographic objective such that an image of the stop, or diaphragm, appears as a fogged spot in the center of the developed negative.

Move suddenly, energetically, or violently;

Leaf of lard.

Be in a state of movement or action;

A shape that spreads outward;

Emerge suddenly;

A sudden burst of flame

Cause to burst;

A burst of light used to communicate or illuminate

Break open or apart suddenly and forcefully;

Reddening of the skin spreading outward from a focus of infection or irritation

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

A sudden recurrence or worsening of symptoms;

A sudden eruption of intense high-energy radiation from the sun's surface; associated with sunspots and radio interference

Am unwanted reflection in an optical system (or the fogging of an image that is caused by such a reflection)

A sudden outburst of emotion;

A device that produces a bright light for warning or illumination or identification

A short forward pass to a back who is running toward the sidelines;

(baseball) a fly ball hit a short distance into the outfield

Burn brightly;

Become flared and widen, usually at one end;

Shine with a sudden light;

Erupt or intensify suddenly;