outbreak

Definition

An eruption; the sudden appearance of a rash, disease, etc.

Etymology

From Middle English outbreken, oute-breken, from Old English ūtābrecan (“to break out”), equivalent to out- + break. Cognate with Saterland Frisian uutbreeke (“to break out; burst out”), West Frisian útbrekke (“to break out”), Dutch uitbreken (“to break out, burst out”), German ausbrechen (“to break out, erupt”).

Example Sentences

• "Any epidemic outbreak causes understandable panic."
• "There has been an outbreak of vandalism at the school."
• "One such investigation described how kindness can be contagious. It was sparked by reports of an outbreak of kindness on a cold December morning in 2012."