Burst

v. i. [imp. & p. p. BURST; p. pr. & vb. n. BURSTING. The past participle bursten is obsolete.] [A-S. berstan (bearst, burston, borsten), D. barsten, bersten, L. & H. Ger. bersten, O. H. Ger. brestan, M. H. Ger. bresten, O. Sax. brestan, Icel. bresta, Sw. brista, Dan. briste, bröste. Cf. BRAST.]

1Sense 1. To fly or break open with force, or with sudden violence; to suffer a violent disruption by pressure from within; as, the boiler burst:—often used figuratively, as of the heart, in reference to the violence of passion, grief, desire, &c.

The egg that soon, Bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosed Their callow young. Milton.

No, no; my heart will burst, an if I speak; And I will speak, that so my heart may burst. Shak.

2Sense 2. To exert force or pressure by which something is made suddenly to give way and allow escape; to issue or escape by a sudden or violent rending or removal of obstacles;—usually with some qualifying adverb or preposition, as forth, out, away, into, upon, through, &c.

Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth. Milton.

You burst, ah, cruel! from my arms. Pope.

A resolved villain Whose bowels suddenly burst out. Shak.

We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea. Coleridge.

To burst upon him like an earthquake. Goldsmith.

Synonyms—To crack; break; split; rend; sever.

v. t. 1. To break or rend by force or violence, as by strain or pressure from within; to open suddenly; as, to burst a chain or a door; to burst a cannon; to burst a blood-vessel. My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage. Shak. 2. To break. [Obs.] You will not pay for the glasses you have burst. Shak. He burst his lance against the sand below. Fairf. Tasso.