Real Dictionary

burst
verb: If a dam bursts, or if something bursts it, it breaks apart because the force of the river is too great.
verb: If a river bursts its banks, the water rises and goes on to the land.
verb: If something bursts or if you burst it, it suddenly breaks open or splits open and the air or other substance inside it comes out.
verb: When a door or lid bursts open, it opens very suddenly and violently because someone pushes it or there is great pressure behind it.

burst in American English
to come apart suddenly and violently, as from internal pressure; fly into pieces; break open or out; explode

burst in American Englishoften
intransitive verb: to break, break open, or fly apart with sudden violence
transitive verb: to cause to break or break open suddenly and violently

burst in British English
adjective: broken apart; ruptured
noun: a sudden breaking open or apart; explosion
verb: to break or cause to break open or apart suddenly and noisily, esp from internal pressure; explode