Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BURST, v.i. [pret. and pp. burst. The old participle bursten is nearly obsolete. Sax. byrstan, burstan; D. barsten; G. bersten; Dan. brister; Sw. brista, to burst. The word bristle seems to belong to burst, denoting a shoot.]

1. To fly or break open with force, or with sudden violence; to suffer a violent disruption. The peculiar force of this word is, in expressing a sudden rupture, with violence, or expansion, or both. Hence it is generally used to signify the sudden rupture of a thing by internal force, and a liberation from confinement; as, to burst from a prison; the heart bursts with grief. – Milton.
2. To break away; to spring from; as, to burst from the arms. – Pope.
3. To come or fall upon suddenly or with violence; to rush upon unexpectedly; as, a sound bursts upon our ears.
4. To issue suddenly, or to come from a hidden or retired, place into more open view; as, a river bursts from a valley; a spring bursts from the earth.
5. To break forth into action suddenly; as, to burst into tears.
6. To break or rush in with violence; as, to burst into house or a room. It is often followed by an intensive particle; as, out, forth away, from, or asunder.