Library / English Dictionary

DETONATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Burst and release energy as through a violent chemical or physical reaction

Example:

The Molotov cocktail exploded

Synonyms:

blow up; detonate; explode

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

detonation (a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction)

detonative (exploding almost instantaneously)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to burst with a violent release of energy

Example:

We exploded the nuclear bomb

Synonyms:

blow up; detonate; explode; set off

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "detonate" is one way to...):

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Cause:

blow up; detonate; explode (burst and release energy as through a violent chemical or physical reaction)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "detonate"):

fulminate (cause to explode violently and with loud noise)

dynamite (blow up with dynamite)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

detonation (the act of detonating an explosive)

detonative (exploding almost instantaneously)

detonator (a mechanical or electrical explosive device or a small amount of explosive; can be used to initiate the reaction of a disrupting explosive)

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