| Library / English Dictionary |
TINDERBOX
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A box for holding tinder
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("tinderbox" is a kind of...):
box (a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A dangerous state of affairs; a situation that is a potential source of violence
Example:
the Balkans are the tinderbox of Europe
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("tinderbox" is a kind of...):
situation (a complex or critical or unusual difficulty)
