- to expand with force and noise because of rapid chemical change or decomposition, as gunpowder or nitroglycerine (opposed to implode).
- to burst, fly into pieces, or break up violently with a loud report, as a boiler from excessive pressure of steam.
- to burst forth violently or emotionally, especially with noise, laughter, violent speech, etc.: He exploded with rage when contradicted.
- (of plosives) to terminate the occlusive phase with a plosion.
- to play an explosion shot on a golf ball.
- to cause (gunpowder, a boiler, etc.) to explode.
- to cause to be rejected; destroy the repute of; discredit or disprove: to explode a theory.
- to end with plosion.
- to play an explosion shot on (a golf ball).
- to drive (a player, play, etc.) from the stage by loud expressions of disapprobation.
- to burst or cause to burst with great violence as a result of internal pressure, esp through the detonation of an explosive; blow up
- to destroy or be destroyed in this manner
- (of a gas) to undergo or cause (a gas) to undergo a sudden violent expansion, accompanied by heat, light, a shock wave, and a loud noise, as a result of a fast uncontrolled exothermic chemical or nuclear reaction
- to react suddenly or violently with emotion, etc
- (esp of a population) to increase rapidly
- to show (a theory, etc) to be baseless; refute and make obsolete
- to pronounce (a stop) with audible plosion
