outbreak

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”).

noun

1. An eruption; the sudden appearance of a rash, disease, etc.
   Any epidemic outbreak causes understandable panic.
2. A sudden increase.
   There has been an outbreak of vandalism at the school.
3. (figurative) An outburst or sudden eruption, especially of violence and mischief.
   There has been an outbreak of broken windows in the street.
4. Synonym of breakout (“escape from prison”)

verb

1. (intransitive) To burst out or break forth.