Outbreak for Dummies
noun
pronunciation: 'aʊt,breɪkWhat does Outbreak really mean?
Teacher: Hey there! I heard you're wondering about the word "outbreak." No problem at all, I'm here to help you understand it easily. So, have you ever seen a group of excited kids running out of a school building during recess?
Student: Yeah, that happens a lot!
Teacher: Great! Well, you can think of an outbreak just like that, but instead of excited kids running out, it's about something not so exciting running rampant or spreading rapidly. An outbreak is when something, like a disease or a problem, suddenly starts spreading out and affecting a lot of people, animals, or places all at once. It's kind of like a wildfire that quickly spreads throughout a forest, but instead of fire, we're talking about something like a sneaky virus or an issue that needs attention.
Student: So it's like when everyone starts getting sick with the same thing?
Teacher: Yes, exactly! You've caught on quickly! When a disease spreads quickly and affects a lot of people in a specific area or community, that's called a disease outbreak. It means that a lot of people are getting sick with the same sickness around the same time. It can be worrisome because it means that a virus or bacteria is rapidly spreading and making people ill.
Student: I think I get it now. But can "outbreak" be about something other than diseases?
Teacher: Absolutely! You're absolutely right! "Outbreak" doesn't only apply to diseases. It can also be used for other things. For example, let's say there's an outbreak of excitement in your school because there's going to be a surprise party. It means that the feeling of excitement is rapidly spreading, and everyone is getting excited. Another example is when there's an outbreak of rumors about a celebrity getting a new pet. It means that the talk or gossip about that celebrity's new pet is spreading among a lot of people.
Student: Oh, I see! It's like when something spreads really quickly and affects a lot of people or places.
Teacher: That's it, exactly! You've hit the nail on the head. An outbreak happens when something spreads quickly, just like when something goes viral on the internet. It can affect a lot of people or places and often requires attention to control or contain it. So, whether it's a disease, excitement, gossip, or any other thing that spreads rapidly, we can call it an outbreak.
Student: Got it! Thanks for explaining it in a way that I can understand.
Teacher: You're most welcome! I'm glad I could help. Remember, don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions. Explaining things clearly is my job, and I'm always here to support you in your learning journey. Keep up the great work!
Student: Yeah, that happens a lot!
Teacher: Great! Well, you can think of an outbreak just like that, but instead of excited kids running out, it's about something not so exciting running rampant or spreading rapidly. An outbreak is when something, like a disease or a problem, suddenly starts spreading out and affecting a lot of people, animals, or places all at once. It's kind of like a wildfire that quickly spreads throughout a forest, but instead of fire, we're talking about something like a sneaky virus or an issue that needs attention.
Student: So it's like when everyone starts getting sick with the same thing?
Teacher: Yes, exactly! You've caught on quickly! When a disease spreads quickly and affects a lot of people in a specific area or community, that's called a disease outbreak. It means that a lot of people are getting sick with the same sickness around the same time. It can be worrisome because it means that a virus or bacteria is rapidly spreading and making people ill.
Student: I think I get it now. But can "outbreak" be about something other than diseases?
Teacher: Absolutely! You're absolutely right! "Outbreak" doesn't only apply to diseases. It can also be used for other things. For example, let's say there's an outbreak of excitement in your school because there's going to be a surprise party. It means that the feeling of excitement is rapidly spreading, and everyone is getting excited. Another example is when there's an outbreak of rumors about a celebrity getting a new pet. It means that the talk or gossip about that celebrity's new pet is spreading among a lot of people.
Student: Oh, I see! It's like when something spreads really quickly and affects a lot of people or places.
Teacher: That's it, exactly! You've hit the nail on the head. An outbreak happens when something spreads quickly, just like when something goes viral on the internet. It can affect a lot of people or places and often requires attention to control or contain it. So, whether it's a disease, excitement, gossip, or any other thing that spreads rapidly, we can call it an outbreak.
Student: Got it! Thanks for explaining it in a way that I can understand.
Teacher: You're most welcome! I'm glad I could help. Remember, don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions. Explaining things clearly is my job, and I'm always here to support you in your learning journey. Keep up the great work!
Revised and Fact checked by Elizabeth Martin on 2023-10-29 14:23:43
Outbreak In a sentece
Learn how to use Outbreak inside a sentece
- In an outbreak of the flu, many people in a school got sick at the same time.
- During an outbreak of a forest fire, the fire spreads quickly and affects a large area of the forest.
- In an outbreak of thunderstorms, there are many lightning strikes and heavy rain in a short period of time.
- During an outbreak of protests, many people gather in one place to express their opinions or concerns.
- In an outbreak of a computer virus, many computers get infected and start behaving abnormally.
Outbreak Synonyms
Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.
Outbreak Hypernyms
Words that are more generic than the original word.
Outbreak Hyponyms
Words that are more specific than the original word.