outbreak

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular outbreak

Plural outbreaks

1. (countable) If there is an outbreak, a disease suddenly appears in an area and spreads.

   It was the first measles outbreak in the area in thirty years.

2. (countable) If there is an outbreak of something, it suddenly increases.
   • Synonym: outburst

   There's been a recent outbreak of broken windows in the street.

Related words

• out
• break