The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Burst \Burst\ (b[^u]rst), v. t.
   1. To break or rend by violence, as by an overcharge or by
      strain or pressure, esp. from within; to force open
      suddenly; as, to burst a cannon; to burst a blood vessel;
      to burst open the doors.
      [1913 Webster]

            My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage.
                                                  --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To break. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            You will not pay for the glasses you have burst?
                                                  --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            He burst his lance against the sand below. --Fairfax
                                                  (Tasso).
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To produce as an effect of bursting; as, to burst a hole
      through the wall.
      [1913 Webster]

   Bursting charge. See under Charge.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Burst \Burst\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Burst; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Bursting. The past participle bursten is obsolete.] [OE.
   bersten, bresten, AS. berstan (pers. sing. berste, imp. sing.
   b[ae]rst, imp. pl. burston, p. p. borsten); akin to D.
   bersten, G. bersten, OHG. brestan, OS. brestan, Icel. bresta,
   Sw. brista, Dan. briste. Cf. Brast, Break.]
   1. To fly apart or in pieces; of break open; to yield to
      force or pressure, especially to a sudden and violent
      exertion of force, or to pressure from within; to explode;
      as, the boiler had burst; the buds will burst in spring.
      [1913 Webster]

            From the egg that soon
            Bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosed
            Their callow young.                   --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Often used figuratively, as of the heart, in reference
         to a surcharge of passion, grief, desire, etc.
         [1913 Webster]

               No, no, my heart will burst, an if I speak:
               And I will speak, that so my heart may burst.
                                                  --Shak.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. To exert force or pressure by which something is made
      suddenly to give way; to break through obstacles or
      limitations; hence, to appear suddenly and unexpectedly or
      unaccountably, or to depart in such manner; -- usually
      with some qualifying adverb or preposition, as forth, out,
      away, into, upon, through, etc.
      [1913 Webster]

            Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

            And now you burst (ah cruel!) from my arms. --Pope.
      [1913 Webster]

            A resolved villain
            Whose bowels suddenly burst out.      --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            We were the first that ever burst
            Into that silent sea.                 --Coleridge.
      [1913 Webster]

            To burst upon him like an earthquake. --Goldsmith.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Burst \Burst\, n.
   1. A sudden breaking forth; a violent rending; an explosion;
      as, a burst of thunder; a burst of applause; a burst of
      passion; a burst of inspiration.
      [1913 Webster]

            Bursts of fox-hunting melody.         --W. Irving.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Any brief, violent exertion or effort; a spurt; as, a
      burst of speed.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A sudden opening, as of landscape; a stretch; an expanse.
      [R.] "A fine burst of country." --Jane Austen.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. A rupture or hernia; a breach.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

burst
    n 1: the act of exploding or bursting; "the explosion of the
         firecrackers awoke the children"; "the burst of an atom
         bomb creates enormous radiation aloft" [syn: explosion,
         burst]
    2: rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms; "our fusillade from
       the left flank caught them by surprise" [syn: fusillade,
       salvo, volley, burst]
    3: a sudden flurry of activity (often for no obvious reason); "a
       burst of applause"; "a fit of housecleaning" [syn: burst,
       fit]
    4: a sudden intense happening; "an outburst of heavy rain"; "a
       burst of lightning" [syn: outburst, burst, flare-up]
    v 1: come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal
         pressure; "The bubble burst" [syn: burst, split, break
         open]
    2: force out or release suddenly and often violently something
       pent up; "break into tears"; "erupt in anger" [syn: break,
       burst, erupt]
    3: burst outward, usually with noise; "The champagne bottle
       exploded" [syn: explode, burst] [ant: go off,
       implode]
    4: move suddenly, energetically, or violently; "He burst out of
       the house into the cool night"
    5: be in a state of movement or action; "The room abounded with
       screaming children"; "The garden bristled with toddlers"
       [syn: abound, burst, bristle]
    6: emerge suddenly; "The sun burst into view"
    7: cause to burst; "The ice broke the pipe" [syn: collapse,
       burst]
    8: break open or apart suddenly and forcefully; "The dam burst"
       [syn: burst, bust]