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1. Cause to burst with a violent release of energy
   "We exploded the nuclear bomb";
   - detonate, blow up, set off
    
2. Burst outward, usually with noise
   "The champagne bottle exploded";
   - burst
    
3. Show a violent emotional reaction
   "The boss exploded when he heard of the resignation of the secretary"
    
4. Be unleashed; emerge with violence or noise
   "His anger exploded";
   - burst forth, break loose
    
5. Destroy by exploding
   "The enemy exploded the bridge"
    
6. Cause to burst as a result of air pressure; of stop consonants like /p/, /t/, and /k/
    
7. Drive from the stage by noisy disapproval
    
8. Show (a theory or claim) to be baseless, or refute and make obsolete
    
9. Burst and release energy as through a violent chemical or physical reaction
   "The Molotov cocktail exploded";
   - detonate, blow up
    
10. Increase rapidly and in an uncontrolled manner
    "The population of India is exploding";
    - irrupt

Derived forms: exploded, explodes, exploding

Type of: articulate, change integrity, change state, condemn, confute, destroy, disprove, enounce, enunciate, increase, pronounce, react, reply, respond, ruin, say, sound out, turn

Antonym: go off

Encyclopedia: Explode