outbreak

Meanings

Noun

• An eruption; the sudden appearance of a rash, disease, etc.
• A sudden increase.
• An outburst or sudden eruption, especially of violence and mischief.

Verb

• To burst out.
• To break forth.

Related

Similar words

• outburst, tumult

Opposite words

• inbreak

Origin

• From Middle English outbreken, oute-breken, from Old English ūtābrecan ("to break out"), equivalent to out- + break. Cognate with Saterland Frisian uutbreeke, West Frisian útbrekke, Dutch uitbreken ("to break out, burst out"), German ausbrechen ("to break out, erupt").