fulminate

American  

[fuhl-muh-neyt] / ˈfʌl məˌneɪt /

verb (used without object)

fulminates, present (3rd person singular) fulminated, past participle, past fulminating present participle

1. to explode with a loud noise; detonate.

2. to issue denunciations or the like (usually followed byagainst ).

   The minister fulminated against legalized vice.

---

verb (used with object)

fulminates, present (3rd person singular) fulminated, past participle, past fulminating present participle

1. to cause to explode.

2. to issue or pronounce with vehement denunciation, condemnation, or the like.

noun

1. one of a group of unstable, explosive compounds derived from fulminic acid, especially the mercury salt of fulminic acid, which is a powerful detonating agent.

fulminate British  

/ ˈfʌlmɪˌneɪt, ˈfʊl- /

verb

1. to make criticisms or denunciations; rail

2. to explode with noise and violence

3. archaic (intr) to thunder and lighten

---

noun

1. any salt or ester of fulminic acid, esp the mercury salt, which is used as a detonator

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unfulminated
  adjective
• fulmination
  noun
• fulminator
  noun
• nonfulminating
  adjective
• unfulminating
  adjective
• fulminatory
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have fulminated
  perfect
• has fulminated
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am fulminating
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been fulminating
  perfect progressive
• are fulminating
  progressive
• fulminates
  singular 3rd person
• is fulminating
  progressive 3rd person singular
• fulminating
  participle
• has been fulminating
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had fulminated
  perfect
• was fulminating
  progressive singular
• had been fulminating
  perfect progressive
• were fulminating
  progressive plural
• fulminated
  simple
• fulminated
  participle

Future

• will fulminate
  simple
• will have fulminated
  perfect
• will have been fulminating
  perfect progressive
• will be fulminating
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of fulminate

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English fulminaten < Latin fulminātus, past participle of fulmināre “to hurl thunderbolts, thunder,” equivalent to fulmin-, stem of fulmen “thunderbolt, lightning” + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

Watch a bomb fulminate or explode and hope you're under safe cover. Have your parents fulminate or blow up at you for coming home past curfew and hope you're not grounded for too long. The word fulminate is made up of the Latin root fulmen meaning "lightning flash." Look up at the sky during a violent thunderstorm and chances are you'll catch thunder and lightning fulminate or explode loudly and violently overhead. But you needn't look to the sky alone for this kind of intensity. If you find yourself in a room with passionate Republicans and Democrats debating, you might see them fulminate or severely rail against each other's beliefs.

Example Sentences

Fulminate of mercury is manufactured upon the large scale by two methods.

From Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise by Sanford, P. Gerald (Percy Gerald)

Fulminate is full of fire, but it needs a shock or sudden pressure to liberate it.

From Old Plymouth Trails by Packard, Winthrop

Fulminate should be kept, if possible, in a damp state.

From Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise by Sanford, P. Gerald (Percy Gerald)

Fulminate of mercury has been found most serviceable for the latter purpose.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 794, March 21, 1891 by Various

"Fulminate" is expressive; but words like "roar" and "bellow" must be borrowed to give the reader an idea of the vocal power put into that performance.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 11, No. 68, June, 1863 by Various