Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Explode \Ex*plode"\, v. t.
   1. To drive from the stage by noisy expressions of
      disapprobation; to hoot off; to drive away or reject
      noisily; as, to explode a play. [Obs.]

            Him old and young Exploded, and seized with violent
            hands.                                --Milton.

   2. To bring into disrepute, and reject; to drive from notice
      and acceptance; as, to explode a scheme, fashion, or
      doctrine.

            Old exploded contrivances of mercantile fraud.
                                                  --Burke.

            To explode and exterminate dark atheism. --Bently.

   3. To cause to explode or burst noisily; to detonate; as, to
      explode powder by touching it with fire.

   4. To drive out with violence and noise, as by powder.

            But late the kindled powder did explode The massy
            ball and the brass tube unload.       --Blackmore.

Explode \Ex*plode"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Exploded}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Exploding}.] [L. explodere, explosum, to drive out,
   drive out a player by clapping; ex out+plaudere, plodere, to
   clap, strike, applaud: cf. OF. exploder. See {Plausible}.]
   1. To become suddenly expanded into a great volume of gas or
      vapor; to burst violently into flame; as gunpowder
      explodes.

   2. To burst with force and a loud report; to detonate, as a
      shell filled with powder or the like material, or as a
      boiler from too great pressure of steam.

   3. To burst forth with sudden violence and noise; as, at
      this, his wrath exploded.

Source : WordNet®

explode
     v 1: cause to explode; "We exploded the nuclear bomb" [syn: {detonate},
           {blow up}, {set off}]
     2: burst outward, usually with noise; "The champagne bottle
        exploded" [syn: {burst}] [ant: {implode}]
     3: show a violent emotional reaction; "The boss exploded when
        he heard of the resignation of the secretary"
     4: be unleashed; burst forth with violence or noise; "His anger
        exploded" [syn: {burst forth}, {break loose}]
     5: destroy by exploding; "The enemy exploded the bridge"
     6: cause to burst as a result of air pressure; of stop
        consonants like /p/, /t/, and /k/
     7: drive from the stage by noisy disapproval
     8: show (a theory or claim) to be baseless, or refute and make
        obsolete
     9: increase rapidly and in an uncontrolled manner; "The
        population of India is exploding"; "The island's rodent
        population irrupted" [syn: {irrupt}]