outbreak

Pluraloutbreaks

Formsoutbreaks, outbreaking, outbroke, outbroken

1. 1
   nouncountable

   The sudden start of a disease, rash, or sickness that can spread quickly.

   Like a small fire that spreads quickly if nobody stops it.

   An outbreak of flu closed the school for a week.

   He got an outbreak of red spots after touching the strange plant.

   Similarepidemic, flare-up, eruption

2. 2
   nouncountable

   A sudden rise in the number or amount of something.

   There was an outbreak of weeds in the garden after all the rain.

   After the holiday weekend, there was an outbreak of trash along the beach.

   Similarsurge, burst, flurry, spate, rash

3. 3
   nounfigurativelycountable

   A sudden burst of trouble, such as fighting or bad behavior.

   An outbreak of fighting started between the two groups of fans after the game.

   The substitute teacher faced an outbreak of jokes and shouting from the class.

   Similaroutburst, eruption, wave, spate, rash

4. 4
   verbintransitive

   To start suddenly, often with force or strong feeling.

   Fires can outbreak quickly in dry forests during the summer.

   Fights sometimes outbreak when big crowds get angry and pushy.

   Similarerupt, arise

5. 5
   nouncountable

   An escape from prison, when prisoners get out and run away.

   The guards found an empty cell and knew there had been an outbreak.

   After the outbreak, police searched the woods for the missing prisoners.

   Similarbreakout

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