dynamite

[ dahy-nuh-mahyt ]
See synonyms for dynamite on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a high explosive, originally consisting of nitroglycerin mixed with an absorbent substance, now with ammonium nitrate usually replacing the nitroglycerin.

  2. any person or thing having a spectacular effect.

verb (used with object),dy·na·mit·ed, dy·na·mit·ing.
  1. to blow up, shatter, or destroy with dynamite: Saboteurs dynamited the dam.

  2. to mine or charge with dynamite.

adjective
  1. Informal. creating a spectacular or optimum effect; great; topnotch: a dynamite idea; a dynamite crew.

Origin of dynamite

1
From Swedish dynamit, introduced by Alfred Bernhard Nobel, its inventor in 1867; see dynam-, -ite1

Other words from dynamite

  • dy·na·mit·er, noun
  • dy·na·mit·ic [dahy-nuh-mit-ik], /ˌdaɪ nəˈmɪt ɪk/, adjective
  • dy·na·mit·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • un·dy·na·mit·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for dynamite

dynamite

/ (ˈdaɪnəˌmaɪt) /


noun
  1. an explosive consisting of nitroglycerine or ammonium nitrate mixed with kieselguhr, sawdust, or wood pulp

  2. informal a spectacular or potentially dangerous person or thing

verb
  1. (tr) to mine or blow up with dynamite

Origin of dynamite

1
C19 (coined by Alfred Nobel): from dynamo- + -ite 1

Derived forms of dynamite

  • dynamiter, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for dynamite

dynamite

[ nə-mīt′ ]


  1. A powerful explosive used in blasting and mining. It typically consists of nitroglycerin and a nitrate (especially sodium nitrate or ammonium nitrate), combined with an absorbent material that makes it safer to handle.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.