1 detonation | Definition of detonation

detonation

noun
det·​o·​na·​tion | \ ˌde-tᵊn-ˈā-shən How to pronounce detonation (audio) , ˌde-tə-ˈnā-\

Definition of detonation

1 : the action or process of detonating
2 : rapid combustion in an internal combustion engine that results in knocking

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Synonyms & Antonyms for detonation

Synonyms

blast, blowup, burst, bursting, eruption, explosion, outburst

Antonyms

implosion

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Examples of detonation in a Sentence

there was a series of detonations around the base of the condemned building, causing it to come crashing down in a matter of minutes

Recent Examples on the Web

There was some logic to this: among America’s most vital space assets are the satellites which look for signs of missile launches, detect nuclear detonations and pass orders from the president to nuclear forces. The Economist, "Donald Trump creates Space Command but must wait for Space Force," 30 Aug. 2019 An unknown volume of radioactive material remained in caverns blasted out by the detonations. Fox News, "Sites of major US weapons tests now see wildlife flourishing," 19 Aug. 2019 An unknown volume of radioactive material remains in caverns blasted out by the detonations. Washington Post, "At a glance: Weapons sites converted into wildlife refuges," 18 Aug. 2019 The best information is collected right after the detonation and as close to the scene as possible. Andrew Karam, Popular Mechanics, "Nuclear Forensics: How Scientists Can Tell Whether North Korea Is Lying About Its Bomb Test," 7 Jan. 2016 The sound of three low, ominous sirens broadcast on national television preceded the detonation. Gaia Pianigiani, New York Times, "Last 2 Towers of Genoa Bridge That Collapsed, Killing 43, Are Demolished," 28 June 2019 Vale denies conducting any detonations at the mine near the town of Brumadinho in the hours before the dam collapsed. Luciana Magalhaes, WSJ, "Blasts Probed in Brazil Dam Burst," 25 June 2019 In committing to the fullness of what Mandy endures, Share takes a 21st-century act of exposure and flips it, filling in the background around the glare of a viral detonation. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, "The Intimate Horror of Share," 27 July 2019 They were injured when part of their school building near the attack site collapsed from the detonation of a car bomb which began the Taliban attack. New York Times, "Bombing Kills Dozens and Hurts Schoolchildren as Taliban Talks Resume," 1 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'detonation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of detonation

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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