erupt

present singular third person erupts · participle present erupting · participle past erupted · past erupted

1. intransitiveTo eject something violently (such as lava or water, as from a volcano or geyser).

   The volcano erupted, spewing lava across a wide area.

2. intransitiveTo burst forth; to break out.

   The third molar tooth erupts late in most people, and sometimes does not appear at all.

3. figurativelyintransitiveTo spontaneously release pressure or tension.

   The crowd erupted in anger.

   3 more examples

   The whole table erupted in laughter.

   And Stamford Bridge erupted with joy as Florent Malouda slotted in a cross from Drogba, who had stayed just onside.

   2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC

   Some of the most beautiful and thus appealing physical theories, including quantum electrodynamics and quantum gravity, have been dogged for decades by infinities that erupt when theorists try to prod their calculations into new domains. Getting rid of these nagging infinities has probably occupied far more effort than was spent in originating the theories.

   2012 January 28, Michael Riordan, “Tackling Infinity”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 30 Apr 2013, page 86

4. intransitivebiology(Of birds, insects, etc.) To suddenly appear in a certain region in large numbers.

   After particularly good seasons, flocks "erupt" from their breeding grounds and appear in reed beds where they have not been seen for years, if ever.

   1988, Michael Cady, Rob Hume, editors, The Complete Book of British Birds, page 242