To burst or break apart suddenly and violently, often with a loud noise, because of pressure or a chemical reaction. It can also mean to increase very quickly or to show strong emotion suddenly.
From Latin *explodere* ‘to drive out by clapping’, originally used for actors driven off stage, from *ex-* (‘out’) and *plaudere* (‘to clap’). Over time it shifted from noisy rejection to any sudden, loud bursting.
The word started in theaters, not battlefields—audiences would ‘explode’ bad actors off the stage with clapping and noise. That theatrical sense survives when we say laughter or applause ‘exploded’ in a room.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.