high explosive

noun

1. a class of explosive, as TNT, in which the reaction is so rapid as to be practically instantaneous, used in shells and bombs.

high explosive

noun

1. an extremely powerful chemical explosive, such as TNT or gelignite

Other Word Forms

• high-explosive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of high explosive¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Israel faces accusations of a genocidal attack on Gaza's Palestinians, not just with bullets and high explosive, but by using food as a weapon of war.

From BBC

These are "dual-use weapons", meaning their warhead can be either nuclear or conventional high explosive.

From BBC

Gordon was told to drive a three-tonne truck loaded with three quarters of a tonne of high explosive shells and 200 gallons of petrol.

From BBC

In a single day, August 22, the French lost 27,000 men, most of them shot dead by machine guns and long-range rifles or blown to bits by shrapnel and high explosives.

From Literature

These include the FAB glide bomb, an adapted Soviet-era "dumb bomb" fitted with fins, GPS guidance and 1500kg of high explosive, that is wreaking havoc on Ukrainian defences.

From BBC