gelignite

noun

gel·​ig·​nite ˈje-lig-ˌnīt How to pronounce gelignite (audio)
: a dynamite in which the adsorbent base is largely potassium nitrate or a similar nitrate usually with some wood pulp

Examples of gelignite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As our special report on migration this week notes, in most rich countries immigration is political gelignite. —The Economist, 15 Nov. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gelignite.' 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

gelatin + Latin ignis fire + English -ite — more at igneous

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gelignite was in 1889

Dictionary Entries Near gelignite

gelidium

gelignite

gelilah

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Gelignite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gelignite. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Copy Citation

Share

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Games & Quizzes

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game You can make only 12 words. Pick the best ones!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A crossword with a twist
winning words from the national spelling bee logo
Spelling Bee Quiz Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...