sunburst: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Literary, Technical (in design/music contexts)
Quick answer
What does “sunburst” mean?
A sudden appearance of the sun from behind clouds, or a design/pattern resembling the sun's rays radiating outward.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sudden appearance of the sun from behind clouds, or a design/pattern resembling the sun's rays radiating outward.
Can refer to a decorative motif, a type of watch or clock design, a guitar inlay pattern, a sudden burst of sunlight, or a moment of sudden clarity or inspiration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both use the term in design and meteorological contexts.
Connotations
Slightly more poetic/literary in UK English for the weather sense. The design sense is neutral in both.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties. Perhaps slightly more common in US English due to 'sunburst' as a model name for Fender Stratocaster guitars.
Grammar
How to Use “sunburst” in a Sentence
[Adj] + sunburstsunburst + of + [N (light, colour, inspiration)]in a sunburst patternVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sunburst” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sunburst clock on the mantelpiece was a family heirloom.
- She wore a sunburst brooch on her lapel.
American English
- He saved up for a sunburst finish on his new acoustic guitar.
- The sunburst tabletop was the room's focal point.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in marketing for descriptive product names (e.g., 'Sunburst Collection').
Academic
Rare. May appear in art history, design, or meteorology papers.
Everyday
Most common when describing specific designs on objects (watches, guitars, tables).
Technical
Used in lutherie (guitar making), jewellery design, horology (watchmaking), and interior design.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sunburst”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sunburst”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sunburst”
- Using it as a verb (*'The sun sunbursted through').
- Confusing with 'sunburn'.
- Overusing the metaphorical sense.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word, mostly used in specific contexts like design, music, or poetic description.
No, 'sunburst' is not standardly used as a verb. It is primarily a noun and can be used attributively as an adjective (e.g., sunburst pattern).
They are often interchangeable for radial designs. 'Sunburst' explicitly references the sun and its rays. 'Starburst' references a star and might imply more points or a more explosive shape.
Not literally. It relates to a sudden appearance or emergence (like the sun bursting through clouds) or to the visual effect of rays 'bursting' outward from a centre.
A sudden appearance of the sun from behind clouds, or a design/pattern resembling the sun's rays radiating outward.
Sunburst is usually formal, literary, technical (in design/music contexts) in register.
Sunburst: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌn.bɜːst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌn.bɝːst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A sunburst of inspiration”
- “Like a sunburst through the gloom”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SUN + BURST. Imagine the sun BURSTing through clouds, or a firework that looks like a SUN bursting.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLARITY/INSPIRATION IS LIGHT ("a sunburst of understanding"), BEAUTY IS RADIANT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'sunburst' LEAST likely to be used?