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.

---

Etymology

Origin of thermite

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

Example Sentences

“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

In Denmark on March 12 the Niels Harrit court case will hopefully advance public understanding about the use of nano thermite, to be presented as evidence.

From New York Times • Mar. 5, 2015

It fell after the man and hit and burst, and it was thermite which surrounded itself with a column of acrid smoke from seared wood blocks.

From Space Platform by Leinster, Murray