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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
burst verb (burst, bursting) 1 tr & intr to break or fly open or into pieces, usually suddenly and violently. 2 (especially burst in, into or out of somewhere or something) intrans to make one's way suddenly or violently into or out of it, etc burst into the room. 3 (usually burst on to something) intrans to appear suddenly in (a specified circle or area) and be immediately important or noteworthy burst on to the political scene. 4 (usually be bursting) intrans a (also be bursting at the seams) to be completely full; b to break open; to overflow, etc My suitcase is bursting; c (usually be bursting with something) to be overflowing with or unable to contain (one's excitement, vitality, anger or other emotion). 5 technical to tear apart the perforated sheets of (continuous stationery). noun 1 an instance of bursting or breaking open. Often in compounds a tyre-burst. 2 the place where something has burst or broken open, or the hole or break, etc made by it bursting. 3 a sudden, brief or violent period of some activity, eg speed, gunfire, applause, laughter. burst into flames to begin burning suddenly and violently. burst into song to begin singing, especially suddenly or unexpectedly. burst into tears to begin weeping suddenly or unexpectedly. burst open usually said of a door: to open suddenly and violently. burst out laughing to begin laughing suddenly or unexpectedly.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon berstan.
burst verb (burst, bursting) 1 tr & intr to break or fly open or into pieces, usually suddenly and violently. 2 (especially burst in, into or out of somewhere or something) intrans to make one's way suddenly or violently into or out of it, etc burst into the room. 3 (usually burst on to something) intrans to appear suddenly in (a specified circle or area) and be immediately important or noteworthy burst on to the political scene. 4 (usually be bursting) intrans a (also be bursting at the seams) to be completely full; b to break open; to overflow, etc My suitcase is bursting; c (usually be bursting with something) to be overflowing with or unable to contain (one's excitement, vitality, anger or other emotion). 5 technical to tear apart the perforated sheets of (continuous stationery). noun 1 an instance of bursting or breaking open. Often in compounds a tyre-burst. 2 the place where something has burst or broken open, or the hole or break, etc made by it bursting. 3 a sudden, brief or violent period of some activity, eg speed, gunfire, applause, laughter. burst into flames to begin burning suddenly and violently. burst into song to begin singing, especially suddenly or unexpectedly. burst into tears to begin weeping suddenly or unexpectedly. burst open usually said of a door: to open suddenly and violently. burst out laughing to begin laughing suddenly or unexpectedly.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon berstan.
burst verb (burst, bursting) 1 tr & intr to break or fly open or into pieces, usually suddenly and violently. 2 (especially burst in, into or out of somewhere or something) intrans to make one's way suddenly or violently into or out of it, etc burst into the room. 3 (usually burst on to something) intrans to appear suddenly in (a specified circle or area) and be immediately important or noteworthy burst on to the political scene. 4 (usually be bursting) intrans a (also be bursting at the seams) to be completely full; b to break open; to overflow, etc My suitcase is bursting; c (usually be bursting with something) to be overflowing with or unable to contain (one's excitement, vitality, anger or other emotion). 5 technical to tear apart the perforated sheets of (continuous stationery). noun 1 an instance of bursting or breaking open. Often in compounds a tyre-burst. 2 the place where something has burst or broken open, or the hole or break, etc made by it bursting. 3 a sudden, brief or violent period of some activity, eg speed, gunfire, applause, laughter. burst into flames to begin burning suddenly and violently. burst into song to begin singing, especially suddenly or unexpectedly. burst into tears to begin weeping suddenly or unexpectedly. burst open usually said of a door: to open suddenly and violently. burst out laughing to begin laughing suddenly or unexpectedly.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon berstan.
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
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The unrivalled dictionary for word lovers, now in its 13th edition.
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The Chambers Thesaurus
The Chambers Thesaurus (4th Edition) is a veritable treasure-trove, including the greatest selection of alternative words and phrases available in an A to Z format. -
Chambers Biographical Dictionary
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Thoroughly revised and updated for its 9th edition.




Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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