thermite

American  

[thur-mahyt] / ˈθɜr maɪt /

noun

1. a mixture of finely-divided metallic aluminum and ferric oxide that when ignited produces extremely high temperatures as the result of the union of the aluminum with the oxygen of the oxide: used in welding, incendiary bombs, etc.

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Etymology

Origin of thermite

First recorded in 1895–1900; therm- + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

thermite

“Chris thought it was just too literal,” says Jackson, who soon discovered a more compelling chain-reaction dramatization courtesy of thermite, a simple compound made from aluminum powder and iron oxide.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 2023

One such thermite reaction is Is the reaction spontaneous at room temperature under standard conditions?

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Perhaps what we have is a copper oxide/magnesium thermite?

From The Guardian ● Apr. 15, 2016

They undressed, set their contaminated clothes afire with a thermite grenade, and left, leaving the shells unsecured.

From New York Times ● Oct. 14, 2014

It must have been a thermite bomb—nothing but thermite could be that hot.

From Pursuit by Del Rey, Lester