outburst

Outburst is a term used to describe a sudden, often brief, release or appearance of something that becomes visible abruptly. It can refer to a physical release, a surge of energy, or a dramatic display, and it is used across different disciplines to denote a rapid, noticeable change.

In everyday language, an outburst most commonly refers to a sudden display of emotion, such as anger, laughter, crying, or surprise. Outbursts are typically unscripted and can be socially disruptive. They may arise from stress, frustration, or fatigue, and in some cases reflect underlying mental health or behavioral issues.

In clinical contexts, outbursts can be described as episodes of dyscontrol or affective lability. They may occur in mood disorders, neurodevelopmental conditions, dementia, traumatic brain injury, substance use, or certain impulse-control disorders. Management focuses on safety, identifying triggers, and employing coping strategies, with pharmacological or psychotherapeutic interventions considered when appropriate.

In astronomy, an outburst is a sudden increase in brightness of a celestial object, such as a nova, dwarf nova, X-ray binary, or active galactic nucleus. Outbursts provide evidence about accretion processes, stellar evolution, and the physics behind transient astronomical events.

In geology and hydrology, the phrase glacier-lake outburst flood describes an abrupt drainage of a glacier dammed lake, releasing large volumes of water rapidly and potentially causing downstream flooding. The term can also appear in field-specific discussions of rapid environmental or geophysical changes.