detonate

[ det-n-eyt ]
/ ˈdɛt nˌeɪt /

verb (used without object), det·o·nat·ed, det·o·nat·ing.

to explode with suddenness and violence.

verb (used with object), det·o·nat·ed, det·o·nat·ing.

to cause (something explosive) to explode.

Origin of detonate

1720–30; < Latin dētonātus thundered forth (past participle of dētonāre), equivalent to dē- de- + ton(āre) to thunder + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM detonate

det·o·na·ble [det-n-uh-buh l] /ˈdɛt n ə bəl/, 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

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Example sentences from the Web for detonate

British Dictionary definitions for detonate

detonate
/ (ˈdɛtəˌneɪt) /

verb

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

Word Origin for detonate

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