high explosive

a class of explosive, as TNT, in which the reaction is so rapid as to be practically instantaneous, used in shells and bombs.

Origin of high explosive

First recorded in 1875–80

high-ex·plo·sive, adjective

The high-explosive shrapnel alluded to above is designed primarily for the attack of shielded guns.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 |Various
Instantly the gunners pressed their triggers and a stream of high-explosive shells issued from the roaring weapons.

Triplanetary |Edward Elmer Smith
They are fools who hold that a ton of high-explosive is worth all the rhetoric of Cicero.

The Orchard of Tears |Sax Rohmer
This time Kirkwood released three of the high-explosive missiles.

Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. |Percy F. Westerman

The action began with the usual bombardment of high-explosive shells.

The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of VIII) |Various

high explosive

an extremely powerful chemical explosive, such as TNT or gelignite