dynamite
UK /ˈdʌɪnəmʌɪt/ · US /ˈdaɪ.nəˌmaɪt/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms dynamites dynamiting dynamited
- noun A class of explosives made from nitroglycerine in an absorbent medium such as kieselguhr, used in mining and blasting.
- noun (informal, proscribed) A stick of trinitrotoluene (TNT).
- noun (figuratively, slang, uncountable) Anything exceptionally dangerous, exciting or wonderful.
- noun (slang) A strong drug, in particular heroin, cocaine or potent marijuana.
- verb To blow up with dynamite or other high explosive.
- verb (figuratively) To dismantle or destroy.
- verb (transitive, of brakes) To apply maximum pressure to very quickly. “dynamite the brakes”
- verb (intransitive, of brakes) To lock up from being invoked too suddenly. “the brakes will dynamite”
- proper noun A sub-sitio in the sitio of Hilltop, barangay of Ambuclao, Bokod, Benguet, Philippines.
Synonyms
Etymology
Coined by Alfred Nobel in 1867. Ultimately from Ancient Greek δύναμις (dúnamis, “power”) + -ite, most likely under the influence of dynamo or dynamic.
Webster’s 1913
- noun An explosive substance consisting of nitroglycerin absorbed by some inert, porous solid, as infusorial earth, sawdust, etc. It is safer than nitroglycerin, being less liable to explosion from moderate shocks, or from spontaneous decomposition.
Etymology [Gr. Dynamic.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “dynamite”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details