\Burst\, 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 The past participle bursten is obsolete.]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.
b[ae]rst, 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.
         From the egg that soon Bursting with kindly rupture,
         forth disclosed Their callow young.   --Milton.
Note: Often used figuratively, as of the heart, in reference
      to a surcharge of passion, grief, desire, etc.
            No, no, my heart will burst, an if I speak: And I
            will speak, that so my heart may burst. --Shak.
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.
         Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth. --Milton.
         And now you burst (ah cruel!) from my arms. --Pope.
         A resolved villain Whose bowels suddenly burst out.
                                               --Shak.
         We were the first that ever burst Into that silent
         sea.                                  --Coleridge.
         To burst upon him like an earthquake. --Goldsmith.

\Burst\ (b[^u]rst), 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.
         My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage.
                                               --Shak.
2. To break. [Obs.]
         You will not pay for the glasses you have burst?
                                               --Shak.
         He burst his lance against the sand below. --Fairfax
                                               (Tasso).
3. To produce as an effect of bursting; as, to burst a hole
   through the wall.
{Bursting charge}. See under {Charge}.

\Burst\, 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.
         Bursts of fox-hunting melody.         --W. Irving.
2. Any brief, violent exertion or effort; a spurt; as, a
   burst of speed.
3. A sudden opening, as of landscape; a stretch; an expanse.
   [R.] ``A fine burst of country.'' --Jane Austen.
4. A rupture or hernia; a breach.