outbreak
An eruption; the sudden appearance of a rash, disease, etc.
Noun 4 meanings
An eruption; the sudden appearance of a rash, disease, etc.
“Any epidemic outbreak causes understandable panic.”
A sudden increase.
“There has been an outbreak of vandalism at the school.”
An outburst or sudden eruption, especially of violence and mischief.
“There has been an outbreak of broken windows in the street.”
Synonym of breakout (“escape from prison”).
Verb 1 meaning
To burst out or break forth.
Etymology
From Middle English outbreken, oute-breken, from Old English ūtābrecan (“to break out”), equivalent to out- + break. Cognate with Saterland Frisian uutbreeke (“to break out, burst out”), West Frisian útbrekke (“to break out”), Dutch uitbreken (“to break out, burst out”), German ausbrechen (“to break out, erupt”).
Similar and opposite words
OUTBREAK at a glance
OUTBREAK has 8 letters and scores 14 points in Scrabble (O 1 + U 1 + T 1 + B 3 + R 1 + E 1 + A 1 + K 5) and 16 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #7,143 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with outbreak
All rhymesKeep going
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