pentaerythritol tetranitrate

American  

noun

Chemistry, Pharmacology.

1. a white, crystalline, water-insoluble, explosive solid, C 5 H 8 N 4 O 1 2 , used chiefly as a high explosive and as a vasodilator in treating angina pectoris.

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Etymology

Origin of pentaerythritol tetranitrate

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

A preliminary analysis suggested a nitrate-based explosive, with traces of pentaerythritol tetranitrate, a plastic explosive, had been used in the attack.

From BusinessWeek

PETN, or pentaerythritol tetranitrate, is hard to detect.

From Washington Post

The materials included Pentaerythritol tetranitrate, or PETN, the explosive used in the 2001 airliner shoe-bombing attempt as well as airplane cargo bombs discovered last month.

From Washington Post

The materials included Pentaerythritol tetranitrate, or PETN, which was used in the 2001 airliner shoe-bombing attempt as well as airplane cargo bombs discovered last month by authorities.

From Salon

According to the federal complaint, Mr. Abdulmutallab tried to set off an explosive identified as pentaerythritol tetranitrate, also called PETN.

From New York Times