high explosive

American  

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.

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high explosive British  

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• high-explosive
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of high explosive

First recorded in 1875–80

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

high explosive

The site figured in Iran’s earlier plans to develop a high explosive charge that could be used to set off a nuclear explosion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

Camp Pendleton advised nearby residents that there will be live-fire training with high explosive munitions through Sunday, which will result in some roads on base being closed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2025

The company's Facebook page says it manufactures "various high explosive compositions and specialty products" for the US Department of Defense as well as US industrial markets.

From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2025

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 ● Jun. 4, 2024

Sir Andrew Noble, a member of the great firm of Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., of Elswick, tried the experiment of exploding some cordite, a high explosive, inside a steel vessel of enormous strength.

From Marvels of Scientific Invention An Interesting Account in Non-technical Language of the Invention of Guns, Torpedoes, Submarine Mines, Up-to-date Smelting, Freezing, Colour Photography, and many other recent Discoveries of Science by Thomas W. Corbin

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