# eruption

/ˌiˈɹəpʃən/ (US) · /ɪɹˈʌpʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/eruption
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. volcanic activity

noun · CEFR B2

the moment when a volcano throws out hot lava, ash, and gas.

For teachers: the sudden and violent ejection of volcanic material, such as lava, tephra, and gases, from a vent in the Earth's crust.

- The massive eruption of the volcano forced thousands of people to leave their homes.
- Geologists monitored the seismic activity for weeks, yet the eventual eruption was more powerful than any of their models had predicted.

### 2. sudden noise or emotion

noun · CEFR B2

a sudden, loud burst of noise or a strong showing of feeling.

For teachers: a sudden and violent outbreak of noise, activity, or emotion from a person or group.

- An eruption of laughter filled the room after he told the joke.
- The referee's controversial decision triggered an immediate eruption of anger from the home crowd, leading to a brief delay in the match.

### 3. skin rash

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a sudden appearance of spots or a rash on your skin.

For teachers: the sudden appearance of a rash, spots, or other lesions on the skin, often as a symptom of an underlying infection.

- The doctor examined the red eruption on the child's arm to see if it was an allergy.
- The patient presented with a painful eruption of small blisters across the torso, characteristic of a viral infection.

## Examples

- The volcanic eruption covered the nearby town in gray ash.
- The sudden eruption of applause from the audience startled the speaker during her opening remarks.
- Geologists monitored the seismic activity for weeks, fearing that a major eruption would displace thousands of residents living on the mountain's fertile slopes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.