Definition of the word exploded

The word "exploded" derives from the Old French verb exoldeler, which means "to burst out" or "to burst open." The French verb is a compound word formed from ex-, a prefix that indicates outward motion or direction, and olfiler, a verb meaning "to scent" or "to smell." In the context of explosives, the term "exploded" implies a sudden, violent release of energy, resulting in the disintegration or dismemberment of an object. The word has been used in this sense since the 16th century, as evidenced by the poet Edmund Spenser, who wrote in 1591 that "A bulleat rich from the promuttit many a crease / Shaludaunch in bosom where it foundes, / Make the dyall beds in his fertile earth to blase, / The parcells shells all scattered, and the savours ground..." Here, Spenser employs "explode" in its original meaning of "burst forth" or "discharge" to describe the shattering of a bullet as it crashes into the ground. In scientific and technical contexts, "exploded" can also refer to molecular structures that have been expanded or dispersed in space, as opposed to their condensed state. This use of the word arose in the mid-19th century, following the development of structural chemistry, which allowed scientists to visualize and represent molecular arrangements. Examples of this usage range from the popular expression "exploded diagram" to less familiar technical terms, such as "exploded view" and "exploded standard" in engineering and architecture. In all its meanings, "exploded" implies suddenness, violence, and force, making it a potent word for portraying dramatic and dynamic events in various contexts.