plastic explosive

American  

noun

1. a puttylike substance that contains an explosive charge, and is detonated by fuse or by remote control: used especially by terrorists and in guerrilla warfare.

---

plastic explosive British  

noun

1. an adhesive jelly-like explosive substance

---

Etymology

Origin of plastic explosive

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Cash, handguns, grenades, ammunition and plastic explosives were found during the police searches and the police said the New IRA was a line of inquiry.

From BBC

Two men and a woman have been arrested under the Terrorism Act following the discovery of cash, handguns, grenades, ammunition and plastic explosives.

From BBC

It could fly more than 40 mph with a brick of plastic explosive attached to its belly, but he still needed to perfect the detonator mechanism.

From Los Angeles Times

Both the expert and the diver, who works regularly in the Baltic Sea, insisted a small plastic explosive could do the job, as long as it was placed near a seam of the pipeline.

From New York Times

Someone had broken into his house and blown up a file cabinet with plastic explosives.

From New York Times