gunpowder
noun
gun·pow·der
| \ ˈgən-ˌpau̇-dər
\
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Definition of gunpowder
: an explosive mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur used in gunnery and blasting
broadly
: any of various powders used in guns as propelling charges
Examples of gunpowder in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Later; back in the lunar module, its pungent smell—like gunpowder: The pleasure of adapting one’s movements to one-sixth of Earth’s gravity. — Buzz Aldrin, Popular Mechanics, "Why I Walked on the Moon," 20 July 2019 Dozens of containers of gunpowder and other munitions, which had been confiscated en route from Iran to Syria and stored next to a Cypriot naval base, exploded. — Jack Ewing, New York Times, "Dimitris Christofias, 72, Cyprus President for One Ill-Fated Term, Dies," 23 June 2019 Other evidence included a bloody shoe print, gunpowder residue, eyewitness accounts and a gun allegedly stolen from Flowers' uncle's car that was never recovered. — Richard Wolf, USA TODAY, "Supreme Court overturns conviction of man tried six times for murder, citing racism in jury selection," 21 June 2019 An optional menu of odors enables the patient to sniff gunpowder or spices through a metal tube. — Claudia Wallis, Scientific American, "How Virtual Reality Will Transform Medicine," 1 Feb. 2019 There were also drawings of bombs, complete with careful measurements of gunpowder, what charges were needed. — Leah Sottile, Longreads, "Chapter Five: The Remnant," 20 July 2019 As more cultures experimented with gunpowder, fireworks soared over borders and seas. — Claire Wolters, National Geographic, "Red, white, and boom? How fireworks came to America," 3 July 2019 They were purchased, owned, and modified by the acting companies that regarded the scripts as items in their stock-in-trade—the raw material that, along with costumes, cauldrons, gunpowder, and other goods, the players used to put on their shows. — Phyllis Rackin, The Atlantic, "The Hidden Women Writers of the Elizabethan Theater," 8 June 2019 When the acrid smell of gunpowder swirled through Santa Fe High School in Texas last May, several people rushed into action. — Alex Horton, Washington Post, "He said he protected students in a school shooting. Then the truth emerged.," 1 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gunpowder.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for gunpowder
gunpowder
noun
English Language Learners Definition of gunpowder
: a dry explosive substance that is used in guns and to break open sections of rock or earth for mining, building roads, etc.
See the full definition for gunpowder in the English Language Learners Dictionary
gunpowder
noun
gun·pow·der
| \ ˈgən-ˌpau̇-dər
\
\
Kids Definition of gunpowder
: an explosive powder used in guns and blasting
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