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.

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plastic explosive British  

noun

1. an adhesive jelly-like explosive substance

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Etymology

Origin of plastic explosive

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

plastic explosive

While authorities have not named the type of explosive, unconfirmed media reports have said it was Semtex, a plastic explosive with industrial and military uses.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

“Smiles and laughter followed when I produced the marzipan, made in Denmark. It wasn’t a plastic explosive after all, and Dan celebrated his birthday with the cake of his dreams that year.”

From Washington Post ● Oct. 26, 2021

The cantilever is coated on one side with a chemical that specifically binds a target molecule--say, a cancer-related protein or a plastic explosive.

From Time Magazine Archive

Greek investigators speculated that the explosion on the plane may have been caused by a Czechoslovak-made plastic explosive called Semtex, which East bloc countries export in large quantities to Lebanon.

From Time Magazine Archive

In both cases party membership in the provinces was more like plastic explosive.

From Time Magazine Archive