What does belch mean?
Belch is a verb meaning to expel gas noisily from the stomach through the mouth — what is often called a burp in everyday American speech. It also has a vivid figurative use: chimneys, volcanoes, furnaces, and engines are said to belch smoke, fumes, or flame when they pour them out forcefully. As a noun, a belch can be either the noisy release of stomach gas itself or a sudden burst of smoke and fire. The word carries an informal, earthy tone; describing a person as belching at the table implies rudeness or lack of manners, while the industrial sense lends writing a dramatic, almost theatrical energy. Long established in English, it was the standard term for the bodily act long before the softer-sounding 'burp' appeared in the twentieth century. Its onomatopoeic punch and versatility make it equally at home in medical-adjacent discussion, comedy, and descriptions of smoking factories.
To expel gas noisily from the stomach through the mouth; also, to send out smoke, flame, or fumes forcefully from an opening.
"The old locomotive belched thick black smoke as it pulled away."
In the bodily sense the word is informal; 'eructate' or 'eruct' is the formal medical equivalent.
An act or instance of belching: a noisy release of gas from the stomach, or a forceful burst of smoke or flame.
"A belch of flame shot from the dragon's jaws."
Standard plural, pronounced /ˈbɛltʃɪz/.
"The engine gave off several loud belches before stalling."
Before 'burp' became the polite word in the mid-20th century, 'belch' was the ordinary English term for a burp — and it's been erupting from English mouths since before Shakespeare.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of belch
Belch dates back to Middle English, appearing by the fifteenth century, and is likely of imitative origin — echoing the sound of the act itself. It may be related to Old English 'bealcan' or 'balcan', meaning to bring up wind from the stomach, though the exact connection is uncertain. The word has always carried both the bodily sense and, from early on, the figurative sense of pouring out smoke or flame. It remains a robust native English word rather than a borrowing from Latin or French.
Related word forms
How belch is actually used
As a verb for expelling stomach gas, 'belch' is informal and can sound impolite or comic; the more neutral clinical term is 'eructation'. The figurative use for chimneys, volcanoes, or engines sending out smoke and flame is common in descriptive writing. As a noun, both the bodily sense and the smoke-and-flame sense are well established.
Easily confused with belch
Birch is a type of tree with smooth bark, whereas belch refers to expelling gas or smoke.