v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Burst; p. pr. & vb. n. Bursting. The past participle bursten is obsolete. ] [ OE. bersten, bresten, AS. berstan (pers. sing. berste, imp. sing. bærst, imp. pl. burston, p. p. borsten); akin to D. bersten, G. bersten, OHG. brestan, OS. brestan, Icel. bresta, Sw. brista, Dan. briste. Cf. Brast, Break. ] 1. To fly apart or in pieces; of break open; to yield to force or pressure, especially to a sudden and violent exertion of force, or to pressure from within; to explode; as, the boiler had burst; the buds will burst in spring. [ 1913 Webster ]

From the egg that soon
Bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosed
Their callow young. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Often used figuratively, as of the heart, in reference to a surcharge of passion, grief, desire, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

No, no, my heart will burst, an if I speak:
And I will speak, that so my heart may burst. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To exert force or pressure by which something is made suddenly to give way; to break through obstacles or limitations; hence, to appear suddenly and unexpectedly or unaccountably, or to depart in such manner; -- usually with some qualifying adverb or preposition, as forth, out, away, into, upon, through, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

And now you burst (ah cruel!) from my arms. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

A resolved villain
Whose bowels suddenly burst out. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

We were the first that ever burst
Into that silent sea. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

To burst upon him like an earthquake. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To break or rend by violence, as by an overcharge or by strain or pressure, esp. from within; to force open suddenly; as, to burst a cannon; to burst a blood vessel; to burst open the doors. [ 1913 Webster ]

My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To break. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

You will not pay for the glasses you have burst? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

He burst his lance against the sand below. Fairfax (Tasso). [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To produce as an effect of bursting; as, to burst a hole through the wall. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bursting charge. See under Charge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A sudden breaking forth; a violent rending; an explosion; as, a burst of thunder; a burst of applause; a burst of passion; a burst of inspiration. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bursts of fox-hunting melody. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any brief, violent exertion or effort; a spurt; as, a burst of speed. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A sudden opening, as of landscape; a stretch; an expanse. [ R. ] “A fine burst of country.” Jane Austen. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A rupture or hernia; a breach. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. of Burst, v. i. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One that bursts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A plant (Herniaria glabra) supposed to be valuable for the cure of hernia or rupture. [ 1913 Webster ]