brisance

[ bri-zahns; French bree-zahns ]

noun
  1. the shattering effect of a high explosive.

Origin of brisance

1
1910–15; <French, equivalent to bris(er) to break (<Celtic; akin to Irish brisim (I) break) + -ance-ance

Other words from brisance

  • bri·sant [bri-zahnt; French bree-zahn], /brɪˈzɑnt; French briˈzɑ̃/, adjective

Words Nearby brisance

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use brisance in a sentence

  • It isn't exactly strength or hardness or toughness or resilience or brisance—maybe a combination of all five.

    The Galaxy Primes | Edward Elmer Smith

British Dictionary definitions for brisance

brisance

/ (ˈbriːzəns, French brizɑ̃s) /


noun
  1. the shattering effect or power of an explosion or explosive

Origin of brisance

1
C20: from French, from briser to break, ultimately of Celtic origin; compare Old Irish brissim I break

Derived forms of brisance

  • brisant, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012