detonate

[ det-n-eyt ]

verb (used without object)

, det·o·nat·ed, det·o·nat·ing.

1. to explode with suddenness and violence.

verb (used with object)

, det·o·nat·ed, det·o·nat·ing.

1. to cause (something explosive) to explode.

detonate

/ ˈdɛtəˌneɪt /

verb

1. to cause (a bomb, mine, etc) to explode or (of a bomb, mine, etc) to explode; set off or be set off

Other Words From

• det·o·na·ble [det, -n-, uh, -b, uh, l], deto·nata·ble adjective
• deto·na·bili·ty deto·nata·bili·ty noun
• non·deto·nating adjective
• un·deto·nated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of detonate¹

1720–30; < Latin dētonātus thundered forth (past participle of dētonāre ), equivalent to dē- de- + ton ( āre ) to thunder + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of detonate¹

C18: from Latin dētonāre to thunder down, from de- + tonāre to thunder

Example Sentences

Anti-personnel landmines are explosives which are often concealed on the ground and designed to detonate when people step over or near them.

From BBC

Once the battery runs out, they will not detonate.

From BBC

The six replacement forwards – an Anglo-Saxon answer to South Africa’s bomb squad – failed to detonate, falling foul of Gardner at scrums and breakdown.

From BBC

Mr Hadush’s officers have removed the fuses from some of the weapons they have found, but even so he says extreme heat or accidental fire could detonate them.

From BBC

He said explosions had been caused by butterfly mines - small, anti-personnel mines which can glide to the ground and detonate later on contact - which are coated with leaves to camouflage them.

From BBC

Related Words

• blast
• blow up
• burst
• explode