outbreak

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Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈaʊtbɹeɪk/

Noun

outbreak (plural outbreaks)

1. An eruption; the sudden appearance of a rash, disease, etc.

   Any epidemic outbreak causes understandable panic.

2. (figurative) An outburst or sudden eruption, especially of violence and mischief.

   There has been an outbreak of broken windows in the street.

3. A sudden increase.

   There has been an outbreak of vandalism at the school.

4. A geological layer that breaks out.

Synonyms

• (figurative outburst) outburst, tumult

Antonyms

• inbreak

Translations

• French: irruption
• Italian: focolaio epidemico, epidemia
• Portuguese: surto
• Russian: вспы́шка
• Spanish: brote, irrupción

Verb

outbreak (outbreaks, present participle outbreaking; past outbroke, past participle outbroken)

1. (intransitive) To burst out.
2. (intransitive) To break forth.

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