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
First Known Use: 1729

Related to DETONATE

Rhymes with DETONATE

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