explosion - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
explosion Word Meanings
- a sudden, loud burst of energy
- a violent release of energy causing damage
- a rapid increase in intensity or amount
explosion Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
explosion Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ɪkˈspləʊʒən/
US
/ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
explosion Word Etymology
explosion: ex- = out + plodere = to drive or thrust. Origin: Latin → Old French → English. Picture a firework bursting in the sky, pushing outward and lighting up the night.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I grip the remote, push the button and move back a step. The moment erupts with a sudden, loud burst that rattles the walls. Energy pushes outward in waves, light and sound racing through the space. That rush makes the feeling of explosion rise from a lived moment—an abrupt, violent release of energy that changes what is happening around you.
Real Context
An explosion is a sudden, loud burst of energy that can physically pop or shatter objects. It usually refers to a violent release of energy causing damage, such as a bomb or gas blast, but the term also works in nonliteral senses. You can speak of an explosion of activity, color, or emotion to describe a rapid, dramatic increase in intensity or amount. In everyday usage, people distinguish between explosive forces (instantaneous) and rapid growth described as an explosion of numbers. The word carries both literal and figurative weight, so context and collocations like explode (verb) and explosion (noun) matter.
Usage Reminders
- - Explosions describe physical bursts of energy that can cause damage or destruction. n- Use explosion as the noun and explode as the verb to describe the action. n- It can also describe rapid, dramatic increases in non-physical things (an explosion of color or activity). n- Pronounce with emphasis on the second syllable: ex-PLŌ-zion. n- Common collocations include nuclear explosion, gas explosion, explosive growth; beware of related terms like implosion and detonation.
Common Misconceptions
- Explosion always means a loud noise; it does not always involve sound.
- Explosion and eruption/implode have the same meaning; they are distinct.
- An explosion cannot describe nonphysical things like data or growth without a metaphor.
- Explosive and explosion are interchangeable in all contexts.
- The word explosion only refers to destructive events.
Thinking Differences
English typically separates literal physics from metaphor with clear collocations; learners often treat explosion as only a loud event and miss figurative uses like 'explosion of color' or 'explosive growth'.
Learning Tips
- Learn the main noun form (explosion) and the verb form (explode).
- Memorize common collocations: nuclear explosion, explosive growth, gas explosion.
- Practice both literal and metaphorical uses in short sentences.
- Listen for the stress pattern: ex-PLO-sion (stress on the second syllable).
- Differentiate from related terms: implosion (inward) vs detonation (triggered release).
- Use visual imagery to remember the concept: outward push, light, and energy.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'explosion'?
A.A state of peace
B.A sudden burst of energy
C.A slow increase in volume
D.A gentle breeze
Step 2: Usage
In which of the following sentences is 'explosion' used correctly?
A.The sun caused an explosion of snow on the mountain.
B.She felt an explosion of sadness in her heart.
C.The students sat quietly during the teacher's explosion lecture.
D.The flowers in the garden bloomed with an explosion of colors.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is a synonym of 'explosion'?
A.Calm
B.Blast
C.Whisper
D.Sparkle
Step 4: Opposite Words
Which word is an opposite of 'explosion'?
A.Eruption
B.Implosion
C.Outburst
D.Burst
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life context might you hear the word 'explosion'?
A.Library
B.Fireworks display
C.Yoga class
D.Hospital
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