What does éclater in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word éclater in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use éclater in French.

The word éclater in French means smash, split, divide, pulverize, burst, break out, break, erupt, explode, have a ball, be exposed, be overjoyed, burst out laughing, burst into tears, go over your monthly allowance, burst, break, erupt with joy. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word éclater

smash

verbe transitif (faire voler en morceaux)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
L'homme a éclaté la noix de coco avec une masse.
The man smashed the coconut with a mallet.

split, divide

verbe transitif (figuré (diviser)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Le nouveau directeur a éclaté notre service en trois nouveaux services.
The new manager split our department into three new departments.

pulverize

verbe transitif (familier (frapper violemment) (figurative)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
« Retire ça ou je t'éclate ! » lui dit le voyou.
"Take that back or I'll pulverize you!" the thug told him.

burst

verbe intransitif (exploser, casser) (pipe, tyre, balloon, ball)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Son pneu avant a éclaté en passant sur un nid-de-poule. Le ballon a éclaté en tombant sur une des pointes de la grille.
His front tyre burst going over a pothole. The ball burst when it fell on one of the spikes of the railings.

break out

verbe intransitif (se produire)

(phrasal verb, intransitive: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning and not taking direct object--for example, "make up" [=reconcile]: "After they fought, they made up.")
S'ils ne trouvent pas de compromis, une guerre risque d'éclater.
If they don't find a compromise, there is a risk of war breaking out.

break

verbe intransitif (se produire bruyamment) (storm)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
L'orage a éclaté en fin d'après-midi.
The storm broke late in the afternoon.

erupt

verbe intransitif (figuré (se révéler avec force) (emotion)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
La colère du père de famille a fini par éclater au moment où personne ne s'y attendait. La vérité a fini par éclater après trois ans d'instruction.
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. News of the disaster broke early this morning.

explode

verbe intransitif (figuré (manifester sa colère) (figurative)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Encore une réflexion et je pense qu'il va éclater !
One more remark and I think he's going to explode!

have a ball

verbe pronominal (familier (prendre du plaisir) (informal, figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Marie s'éclate dans son nouveau travail. « Éclate-toi ! » m'ont lancé mes potes avant que je parte faire la tournée des bars.
"Have a great time!" my friends told me before I went on a pub crawl.

be exposed

locution verbale (être révélé)

Son secret a fini par éclater au grand jour.
His secret was exposed to the light of day.

be overjoyed

locution verbale (manifester une grande joie)

Le jeune papa a éclaté de joie en apprenant qu'il avait un garçon.

burst out laughing

locution verbale (rire bruyamment)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Quand j'ai raconté ma mésaventure à mon mari, il a éclaté de rire.

burst into tears

locution verbale (pleurer à chaudes larmes)

go over your monthly allowance

locution verbale (familier, figuré (téléphoner au-delà de l'abonnement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

burst

verbe transitif (crever [qch])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Ces bris de verre ont fait éclater les pneus des voitures.

break

verbe transitif (figuré (révéler [qch]) (figurative)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Ces journalistes ont fait éclater ce scandale.

erupt with joy

locution verbale (manifester sa joie)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Quand le coup de sifflet final a retenti, les vainqueurs ont laissé éclater leur joie.

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