thermite

[ thur-mahyt ]

noun

a mixture of finely-divided metallic aluminum and ferric oxide that when ignited produces extremely high temperatures as the result of the union of the aluminum with the oxygen of the oxide: used in welding, incendiary bombs, etc.

Origin of thermite

First recorded in 1895–1900; therm- + -ite¹

Sawdust-packed thermite grenades were stacked right up to the perforated pipes of the sprinkler system.
The Great Potlatch Riots | Allen Kim Lang
She fired a charge of thermite in my head, and it seared its way down my arm to my fingers.
Vigorish | Gordon Randall Garrett
A mixture of aluminium with various metallic oxides, ready prepared for such purposes, is sold under the name of thermite.
An Elementary Study of Chemistry | William McPherson
The thermite was piled generously in a ridge all the way around.
The Metal Moon | Everett C. Smith
He leveled his pistol at the thermite ridge where it was nearest to him.
The Metal Moon | Everett C. Smith

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