BREAK OPEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does break open mean? 

• BREAK OPEN (verb)
  The verb BREAK OPEN has 3 senses:

1. open with force

2. come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

3. erupt or intensify suddenly

  Familiarity information: BREAK OPEN used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BREAK OPEN (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Open with force

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

He broke open the picnic basket

Hypernyms (to "break open" is one way to...):

open; open up (cause to open or to become open)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They want to break open the doors

Sense 2

Meaning:

Come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

break open; burst; split

Context example:

The bubble burst

Hypernyms (to "break open" is one way to...):

break; come apart; fall apart; separate; split up (become separated into pieces or fragments)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break open"):

pop (burst open with a sharp, explosive sound)

blow (burst suddenly)

stave; stave in (burst or force (a hole) into something)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Erupt or intensify suddenly

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

break open; burst out; erupt; flare; flare up; irrupt

Context example:

The crowd irrupted into a burst of patriotism

Hypernyms (to "break open" is one way to...):

deepen; intensify (become more intense)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

 Context examples 

Those vessels break open and leak blood under the skin.

(Bruises, NIH)

The sores fill with pus, then break open after a few days and form a thick crust.

(Impetigo, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

Symptoms include: • Blackheads and red, tender bumps, called abscesses The abscesses get bigger, break open, and leak pus • Tunnels that form under the skin between abscesses • Scarring

(Hidradenitis Suppurativa, NIH)