explode

/ɪkspˈləʊd/ik-SPLOHD
/ɪkspˈloʊd/ik-SPLOHD

Meaningto clap out (off the stage)

Common meaning: to burst violently

‘out’ + ‘to clap, applaud’ → explode

Journey through time

  1. Latinplaudō, plausum‘to clap, applaud’
  2. Frenchexploder
  3. Englishexplode‘to burst violently’ · today

ex- also in: exitexactexaltexertexpel

plod also in: applaudplausible

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin plaudō ‘to clap, applaud’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry plaudō, p. 1385 · dictionary scan; Skeat, Etymological Dictionary (1898), entry EXPLODE, p. 200 · dictionary scan

Roots

Related words

applaudplausible

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