explosive

[ ik-sploh-siv ]
/ ɪkˈsploʊ sɪv /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR explosive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

tending or serving to explode: an explosive temper; Nitroglycerin is an explosive substance.
pertaining to or of the nature of an explosion: explosive violence.
likely to lead to violence or hostility: an explosive issue.
Phonetics. plosive.

noun

an explosive agent or substance, as dynamite.
Phonetics. plosive.

Origin of explosive

First recorded in 1660–70; explos(ion) + -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM explosive

Words nearby explosive

explosible, explosimeter, explosion, explosion shot, explosion welding, explosive, explosive d, explosive forming, explosive rivet, explosive welding, expo

Words related to explosiveness

unpredictability

Example sentences from the Web for explosiveness

British Dictionary definitions for explosiveness

explosive
/ (ɪkˈspləʊsɪv) /

adjective

of, involving, or characterized by an explosion or explosions
capable of exploding or tending to explode
potentially violent or hazardous; dangerous an explosive situation
phonetics another word for plosive

noun

a substance that decomposes rapidly under certain conditions with the production of gases, which expand by the heat of the reaction. The energy released is used in firearms, blasting, and rocket propulsion
a plosive consonant; stop

Derived forms of explosive

explosively, adverb explosiveness, noun