From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Burst \Burst\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Burst}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Bursting}. The past participle bursten is obsolete.] [OE.
bersten, bresten, AS. berstan (pers. sing. berste, imp. sing.
b[ae]rst, imp. pl. burston, p. p. borsten); akin to D.
bersten, G. bersten, OHG. brestan, OS. brestan, Icel. bresta,
Sw. brista, Dan. briste. Cf. {Brast}, {Break}.]
1. To fly apart or in pieces; of break open; to yield to
force or pressure, especially to a sudden and violent
exertion of force, or to pressure from within; to explode;
as, the boiler had burst; the buds will burst in spring.
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From the egg that soon
Bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosed
Their callow young. --Milton.
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Note: Often used figuratively, as of the heart, in reference
to a surcharge of passion, grief, desire, etc.
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No, no, my heart will burst, an if I speak:
And I will speak, that so my heart may burst.
--Shak.
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2. To exert force or pressure by which something is made
suddenly to give way; to break through obstacles or
limitations; hence, to appear suddenly and unexpectedly or
unaccountably, or to depart in such manner; -- usually
with some qualifying adverb or preposition, as forth, out,
away, into, upon, through, etc.
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Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth. --Milton.
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And now you burst (ah cruel!) from my arms. --Pope.
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A resolved villain
Whose bowels suddenly burst out. --Shak.
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We were the first that ever burst
Into that silent sea. --Coleridge.
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To burst upon him like an earthquake. --Goldsmith.
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