Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EX-PLODE, v.i. [L. explodo; ex and plaudo, to utter a burst of sound, from the root of loud.]

Properly, to burst forth, as sound; to utter a report with sudden violence. Hence, to burst and expand with force and a violent report, as an elastic fluid. We say, gunpowder explodes, on the application of fire; a volcano explodes; a meteor explodes.