Pronunciations (4)
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/ˈdʌɪnəmʌɪt/
Pronunciation notes
- UK
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/ˈdaɪ.nəˌmaɪt/
Pronunciation notes
- US
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/ˈdɪ.nəˌmaɪt/
Pronunciation notes
- obsolete
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ˈdaɪnəmaɪt
Noun
A class of explosives made from nitroglycerine in an absorbent medium such as kieselguhr, used in mining and blasting.
Usage- Uncountable
- usually
A stick of trinitrotoluene (TNT).
Usage- Informal
- proscribed
- Uncountable
- usually
Anything exceptionally dangerous, exciting or wonderful.
Usage- Figurative
- Slang
- Uncountable
- usually
- Examples
-
Even though sometimes I take differing views from some articles and letters in GCN, I think it's a dynamite piece of work. Good luck and thanks again.
And your shoulders are frozen (Cold as the night) / Oh, but you're an explosion (You're dynamite)
More examples (1)
That girl was dynamite. Dark hair with killer blue eyes, bronze skin, and an exquisite full-figured body. He warned us: "That issue about what's been happening at that factory, is political dynamite. Keep the lid on it."
A strong drug, in particular heroin, cocaine or potent marijuana.
Usage- Slang
- Uncountable
- usually
Verb
To blow up with dynamite or other high explosive.
- Examples
-
Gradually the construction gangs cut and dynamited their way through some of the most difficult country in the world.
More examples (1)
[...] on Sunday, August 23, the L.N.W.R. tunnel was closed to enable the old brickwork to be dynamited away, traffic being diverted meanwhile through the M.R. tunnel.
To dismantle or destroy.
Usage- Figurative
- Examples
-
More examples (2)
Even the successful battle in the last century to overturn the court’s infamous Plessy vs. Ferguson “separate but equal” doctrine wasn’t a frontal assault that dynamited precedent.
Cue the appalling thought of a Haiti equaliser that would dynamite Scotland's hopes of doing what they came here to do - making history by making it out of a group in a World Cup.
To apply maximum pressure to very quickly.
Usage- Transitive
- of brakes
- Examples
-
dynamite the brakes
Juan dynamited the brakes and the car skidded to a halt.
More examples (2)
The 1977 Pontiacs had a tendency of dying if you were at high speed and dynamited the brakes.
At the critical moment I'd learned from countless action flicks I dynamited the brakes and felt the impact of the sedan against my rear bumper.
To lock up from being invoked too suddenly.
Usage- Intransitive
- of brakes
- Examples
-
the brakes will dynamite
Noun
an explosive containing nitrate sensitized with nitroglycerin absorbed on wood pulp
- Broader terms
Verb
blow up with dynamite
- Examples
-
The rock was dynamited