detonate

Verb
Synonyms: explodeblow upset off

WordNet 3.0

Verb (2)

  1. cause to burst with a violent release of energy“We exploded the nuclear bomb”Synonyms: explodeblow upset off
  2. burst and release energy as through a violent chemical or physical reaction;"the bomb detonated at noon"“The Molotov cocktail exploded”Synonyms: explodeblow up
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Detonate \Det"o*nate\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Detonated; p. pr. & vb. n. Detonating.] [L. detonare, v. i., to thunder down; de + tonare to thunder; akin to E. thunder. See Thunder, and cf. Detonize.] To explode with a sudden report; as, niter detonates with sulphur. [1913 Webster]
Detonate \Det"o*nate\, v. t. To cause to explode; to cause to burn or inflame with a sudden report. [1913 Webster]
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