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   ex·plo·sion

   /ikˈsplōZH(ə)n/

   noun

   • 1. a violent and destructive shattering or blowing apart of something, as is caused by a bomb. Similar detonationdischargeeruptionblowing upignitionbangblastboomrumblecrashcrackreportthunderrollclappopinformal:whamwhumpliterary:fulmination
   • ▪ a violent expansion in which energy is transmitted outward as a shock wave.
   • ▪ a sudden outburst of something such as noise, light, or violent emotion, especially anger: "an explosion of anger" Similar outburstflare-upblowupoutbreakeruptionstormrushspatesurgerashwaveaccesseffusionfitparoxysmspasmattackspellinformal:paddyrare:ebullitionboutade
   • ▪ a sudden political or social upheaval: "there will have to be sweeping changes if the political leaders want to avoid an explosion"
   • ▪ a rapid or sudden increase in amount or extent: "an explosion in the adder population" Similar sudden increaserapid increasedramatic increasemushroomingsnowballingescalationmultiplicationburgeoningrocketingshooting up
   • ▪ another term for plosion

   Word Origin early 17th century: from Latin explosio(n-) ‘scornful rejection’, from the verb explodere (see explode).

   Scrabble Points: 18

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     1

   • X

     8

   • P

     3

   • L

     1

   • O

     1

   • S

     1

   • I

     1

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   • N

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