detonate
/ˈdɛtəneɪt
/verb
Explode or cause to explode: [no object]: two other bombs failed to detonate [with object]: a trigger that can detonate nuclear weapons...
- If it did smash into the Earth the effect would be like detonating thousands of nuclear bombs, killing billions of people and wiping out an area the size of Europe.
- Pakistan and India declared themselves nuclear powers after detonating atomic bombs in 1998.
- That accord specifically prohibited countries from detonating nuclear weapons in space.
Synonyms
explode, go off, be set off, blow up, burst apart, shatter, erupt;
ignite;
bang, blast, boom, go bang, go boom
set off, explode, discharge, let off, touch off, trigger;
ignite, kindle, light, spark
Derivatives
detonative
- The script uses almost every word as detonative symbol.
- The tube is then subjected to a detonative shock from a high explosive donor charge.
- Suggestion was made that the energy being produced during detonative combustion can be utilized for useful work, e.g. rock mining in a quarry.
Origin
Early 18th century: from Latin detonat- 'thundered down or forth', from the verb detonare, from de- 'down' + tonare 'to thunder'.