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éclater

burst, explode

verb eh-klah-TEH Less Common

Also means

break out (into laughter, tears)

Usage Note

Éclater covers sudden outbursts of all kinds. Éclater de rire means to burst out laughing, and éclater en sanglots means to burst into tears — the preposition changes with the type of eruption. It also applies to physical explosions (le pneu a éclaté — the tyre blew out) and to conflicts breaking out (la guerre a éclaté).

Examples

"Elle a éclaté de rire."

Natural Translation

She burst out laughing.

Literal Translation

She has burst of laughter

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