Hypertext Webster Gateway: "bursting"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Burst \Burst\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Burst}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Bursting}. The past participle bursten is obsolete.] [OE.
bersten, bresten, AS. berstan (pers. sing. berste, imp. sing.
b[ae]rst, imp. pl. burston, p. p. borsten); akin to D.
bersten, G. bersten, OHG. brestan, OS. brestan, Icel. bresta,
Sw. brista, Dan. briste. Cf. {Brast}, {Break}.]
1. 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.

From the egg that soon Bursting with kindly rupture,
forth disclosed Their callow young. --Milton.

Note: Often used figuratively, as of the heart, in reference
to a surcharge of passion, grief, desire, etc.

No, no, my heart will burst, an if I speak: And I
will speak, that so my heart may burst. --Shak.

2. 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.

Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth. --Milton.

And now you burst (ah cruel!) from my arms. --Pope.

A resolved villain Whose bowels suddenly burst out.
--Shak.

We were the first that ever burst Into that silent
sea. --Coleridge.

To burst upon him like an earthquake. --Goldsmith.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

bursting
adj : (of munitions) going off; "bursting bombs"; "an exploding
nuclear device"; "a spectacular display of detonating
anti-tank mines" [syn: {detonating}, {exploding}]


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