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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.
explode verb (exploded, exploding) 1 intrans said of a substance: to undergo an explosion. 2 to cause something to undergo an explosion. 3 intrans to undergo a violent explosion as a result of a chemical or nuclear reaction. 4 intrans to suddenly show a strong or violent emotion, especially anger. 5 to disprove (a theory, etc) with vigour. 6 intrans said especially of population: to increase rapidly.
ETYMOLOGY: 17c; 16c in obsolete sense 'to reject scornfully': from Latin explodere to force off stage by clapping, from plaudere to clap the hands.
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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.
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