explosive — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Able to, or likely to, explode.

   Antonyms

   implosiveinertnonflammable

   Examples

   an explosive device

2. Having the character of an explosion.

   Examples

   an explosive fire

3. Having the character of an explosion. Of a specific cellular automaton rule, tending to exhibit infinite and unpredictable growth when starting from finite random patterns.

   Examples

   Notes: A rule set that (very probably) results in explosive growth; certainly in area if not population.

   More examples (2)

   For example, putting a 1 at (0: 1,1) will cause explosive growth in all directions, putting a 1 at (0: 0,2A) will cause pairs of diagonal cells in a 2x2 square to alternate on and off, putting a 1 at (1: 4,4) will cause all solid 1 areas to stay 1 for another cycle, etc.

   If the rule is further chosen so that active cells can (and must) expand on an inactive background but inactive cells can't do so on an active background (or vice versa), then non-explosive growth becomes possible.

4. Rapidly accelerating.

   Usage

   • Figurative

   Synonyms

   plyometric

   Examples

   Near-synonym: plyometric

   explosive movements

5. Shocking; startling.

   Usage

   • Figurative

   Examples

   an explosive accusation

6. Easily driven to anger, usually with reference to a person.

   Usage

   • Slang

   Examples

   He has an explosive personality.

7. Synonym of plosive.

   Usage

   • Archaic

   Examples

   the explosive consonants

Noun

1. Any explosive substance.

2. A plosive.

   Usage

   • Dated

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The words of these songs were either without meaning, or derived from an idiom with which Watt, a very fair linguist, had no acquaintance. The open a sound was predominant, and the explosives k and g.

Adjective

1. serving to explode or characterized by explosion or sudden outburst

   Antonyms

   nonexplosive

   Examples

   an explosive device

   explosive gas

   More examples (3)

   explosive force

   explosive violence

   an explosive temper

2. liable to lead to sudden change or violence

   Synonyms

   volatile

   Examples

   an explosive issue

   a volatile situation with troops and rioters eager for a confrontation

3. sudden and loud

   Examples

   an explosive laugh

Noun

1. a chemical substance that undergoes a rapid chemical change (with the production of gas) on being heated or struck

   Broader terms

   chemicalchemical substance