erupted

Erupted is the simple past tense and past participle of the verb erupt. It describes the act of bursting forth suddenly and forcefully from a confined space or boundary, and is used in both physical and metaphorical contexts. In geology and volcanology, an eruption refers to the expulsion of magma, ash, and volcanic gases from a volcano, or to the related surface expressions such as lava flows and ash plumes.

From the Latin erumpere, meaning to break out or burst forth, the English word inherits a sense of sudden release. The past tense form erupted is standard in English, and the verb can be used intransitively (a volcano erupted) or in phrases that describe immediate outcomes (emotions erupted).

In geological terms, erupted describes events where pressure within magma leads to surface discharge. Volcanic eruptions may be classified as explosive or effusive, depending on magma viscosity, gas content, and vent dynamics, determining whether ash clouds, pumice, or lava flows dominate the eruption.

In everyday language, erupted is used metaphorically to describe sudden or intense outbursts: a crowd erupted in applause, a buildup of anger erupted into a confrontation, or someone’s smile erupted into laughter. Related noun forms include eruption and eruptive, which describe the event itself or the characteristics of the eruption.