First Known Use: 1729
Dictionary
detonate
verb det·o·nate \ˈde-tən-ˌāt, ˈde-tə-ˌnāt\
: to explode or to cause (something, such as a bomb) to explode
det·o·nat·eddet·o·nat·ing
Full Definition of DETONATE
intransitive verb
: to explode with sudden violence
transitive verb
1
: to cause to detonate <detonate a bomb> — compare deflagrate
2
: to set off in a burst of activity : spark <programs that detonated controversies>
— det·o·nat·able \-ˌā-tə-bəl, -ˌnā-\ adjective
— det·o·na·tive \ˈde-tən-ˌā-tiv, ˈde-tə-ˌnā-\ adjective
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Origin of DETONATE
French détoner to explode, from Latin detonare to expend thunder, from de- + tonare to thunder — more at thunder
Rhymes with DETONATE
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