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Outbreak

//ˈaʊtbɹeɪk// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An eruption; the sudden appearance of a rash, disease, etc.

    "Any epidemic outbreak causes understandable panic."

  2. 2
    a sudden violent spontaneous occurrence (usually of some undesirable condition) wordnet
  3. 3
    A sudden increase.

    "There has been an outbreak of vandalism at the school."

  4. 4
    An outburst or sudden eruption, especially of violence and mischief. figuratively

    "There has been an outbreak of broken windows in the street."

  5. 5
    Synonym of breakout (“escape from prison”).
Verb
  1. 1
    To burst out or break forth. intransitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

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”).

Etymology 2

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”).

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