estallar

to explode; to break out

verb ehs-tah-YAHR Less Common

Usage Note

Estallar is used for physical explosions (la bomba estalló) and figurative outbursts (estalló una guerra, estalló de risa — 'burst out laughing'). Do not confuse with explotar, which additionally means 'to exploit someone'. The noun is estallido (m): un estallido de aplausos ('a burst of applause').

Examples

"La bomba estalló sin causar heridos."

Natural Translation

The bomb exploded without causing injuries.

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