: a smokeless powder composed of nitroglycerin, guncotton, and a petroleum substance usually gelatinized by addition of acetone and pressed into cords resembling brown twine
Examples of cordite in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The men hit the ground as the blast hit, the smell of cordite and dust going deep into their nostrils.
—
Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023
The San Diego native heard the guns, saw the muzzle flashes, smelled the cordite and hit the ground.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2023
Fierro could smell the cordite from the ammunition, saw the flashes and dove, pushing his friend down before falling backwards.
—Time, 22 Nov. 2022
Fierro could smell the cordite from the ammunition, saw the flashes and dove, pushing one of his friends down before falling backwards.
—Greg Norman, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2022
Soon, City’s whole team and its staff members were obscured, swallowed whole by a great cloud of cordite by fireworks that were supposed — were expected — to be for them.
—New York Times, 29 May 2021
As the first rocket shrieks above his head, Iturralde sets off another, another shower of sparks falling at his feet, another cloud of cordite writhing around his sleeve.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2021
Poor ventilation exposed patrons to a combination of odours including rose, seaweed, wine, peppermint, shoe polish and cordite.
—Robert Chalmers, Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2014
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Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023
The San Diego native heard the guns, saw the muzzle flashes, smelled the cordite and hit the ground.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2023
Fierro could smell the cordite from the ammunition, saw the flashes and dove, pushing his friend down before falling backwards.
—Time, 22 Nov. 2022
Fierro could smell the cordite from the ammunition, saw the flashes and dove, pushing one of his friends down before falling backwards.
—Greg Norman, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2022
Soon, City’s whole team and its staff members were obscured, swallowed whole by a great cloud of cordite by fireworks that were supposed — were expected — to be for them.
—New York Times, 29 May 2021
As the first rocket shrieks above his head, Iturralde sets off another, another shower of sparks falling at his feet, another cloud of cordite writhing around his sleeve.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2021
Poor ventilation exposed patrons to a combination of odours including rose, seaweed, wine, peppermint, shoe polish and cordite.
—Robert Chalmers, Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2014
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cordite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1889, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near cordite
Cite this Entry
“Cordite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cordite. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cordite
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