detonation

noun

det·o·na·tion | \ ˌde-tᵊn-ˈā-shən

How to pronounce detonation (audio)

, ˌde-tə-ˈnā-\

Definition of detonation

1 : the action or process of detonating

2 : rapid combustion in an internal combustion engine that results in knocking

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about detonation

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Synonyms & Antonyms for detonation

Synonyms

blast, blowup, burst, bursting, eruption, explosion, outburst

Antonyms

Examples of detonation in a Sentence

there was a series of detonations around the base of the condemned building, causing it to come crashing down in a matter of minutes

Recent Examples on the Web

Although this opera ends at detonation, the atomic story is still being written. — Paul Ross, Popular Mechanics, "I Am Become Opera: An Atomic Show In the Shadow of Los Alamos," 27 July 2018 The second explosion would have been the detonation of the remaining torpedoes aboard the submarine. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The True Story of the Russian Kursk Submarine Disaster," 28 Sep. 2018 Following the detonation of several nuclear devices, members of society’s upper echelon are sent to live in a small bunker with a select few who claim their job is to keep everybody safe. — Anne T. Donahue, Marie Claire, "In 2018, Horror Movies Are the Most Comforting Things I Watch," 19 Nov. 2018 While the detonation of a nuke seemed inevitable, one day after the official game release, a group of Fallout 76 players has already fought in the most difficult armageddon possible. — Patricia Hernandez, The Verge, "Fallout 76’s first end-game nuke launches, starts apocalyptic battle," 15 Nov. 2018 In two and a half months, Andy and a volunteer crew added improved twin-turbochargers and water-methanol anti-detonation injection (ADI), allowing them to raise engine manifold pressure and boost. — Eric Tegler, Ars Technica, "400mph, 50 feet up—what it takes to race and win world’s fastest motorsport," 30 Aug. 2018 While no detonation happened, it was later revealed that the site was radioactively contaminated by another secret experiment in which the government buried several thousand pounds of radioactive soil in the same area without telling nearby people. — Maka Monture, Teen Vogue, "10 Films That Show How the U.S. Has Mistreated Native Americans and Alaska Natives," 22 Nov. 2018 But the turbochargers that are all but omnipresent in today's two-liter engines don't play nicely with high compression ratios, because the combustion can become erratic and possibly result in engine knock (unwanted detonation of the fuel-air mix). — Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, "Variable-compression engine meets crossover: Infiniti QX50 review," 8 Nov. 2018 Nuclear bombs produce two distinct flashes: the superheating of air caused by the detonation and the shockwave itself, which emits light. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Sheep Glands Point to Nukes as Source of Mysterious 1979 Explosion," 12 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'detonation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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The first known use of detonation was in 1686

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