Detonate

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈdÉ›tÉ™neɪt/

Origin

From Latin detonāre. It meant "to stop thundering", e.g. as in weather (de- = "from", tonare = "to thunder"). The current English meaning seems to be a new formation in postclassical times.

Full definition of detonate

Verb

1. (intransitive) To explode; to blow up. Specifically, to combust supersonically via shock compression.
2. (transitive) To cause an explosion.

Synonyms

• blast
• discharge
• fulminate

Antonyms

• (with respect to speed of prorogation): deflagrate

Hypernyms

• combust

Related terms

• detonatable
• detonation
• detonator