outbreak
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English
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”).
Pronunciation
Noun
outbreak (plural outbreaks)
- 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.
- (figurative) 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”)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Derived terms
Translations
an eruption, sudden appearance
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a sudden increase
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(fig.) an outburst or sudden eruption, especially violent
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Verb
outbreak (third-person singular simple present outbreaks, present participle outbreaking, simple past outbroke, past participle outbroken)
- (intransitive) To burst out or break forth.