propellant

American  

[pruh-pel-uhnt] / prəˈpɛl ənt /

noun

1. a propelling agent.

2. the charge of explosive used to propel the projectile from a gun.

3. a substance, usually a mixture of fuel and oxidizer, for propelling a rocket.

4. a compressed inert gas that serves to dispense the contents of an aerosol container when the pressure is released.

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propellant British  

/ prəˈpɛlənt /

noun

1. something that provides or causes propulsion, such as the explosive charge in a gun or the fuel in a rocket

2. the gas used to carry the liquid droplets in an aerosol spray

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Other Word Forms

• multipropellant noun

Etymology

Origin of propellant

First recorded in 1915–20; propel + -ant

Example Sentences

Oil-based substances can include lab-made fragrances, propellants that push spray deodorant out of the can, and stabilizing ingredients that help keep everything mixed evenly.

From The Wall Street Journal

Helium is used to pressurise propellant tanks, and any fault in that system could affect the performance of the upper stage engine or the safe draining of the fuel.

From BBC

Ukrainian firm Fire Point, which develops military drones and missiles, was the first to set up in Denmark, where it began construction in Vojens of a plant to produce propellants in December.

From Barron's

Police are still searching for a part of the parachute system which contains propellant.

From BBC

The two-day test included filling the Space Launch System rocket with propellants, liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.

From Barron's

Related Words

• ammunition
• bomb
• booby trap
• detonator
• dynamite
• gunpowder
• mine
• missile
• munition
• powder