Other Words from pyrotechnics

pyrotechnician \ ˌpī-rə-ˌtek-ˈni-shən

\ noun

pyrotechnist \ ˌpī-rə-ˈtek-nist

\ noun

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The use of military fireworks in elaborate celebrations of war and peace is an ancient Chinese custom, but our term for the making and launching of fireworks is a product of the 17th and 18th centuries. Pyrotechnics and the earlier adjective pyrotechnic derive via French from the Greek nouns pyr ("fire") and techne ("art"). In pyr one can see such fiery relatives as pyromania, the term for an irresistible impulse to start fires, as well as pyrite, the mineral also known as fool's gold. (That word also has an obsolete meaning, in the form pyrites, referring to a stone used for striking fire.) Like fireworks, pyrotechnics also has an extended figurative usage, referring to any kind of dazzling display or performance.

Examples of pyrotechnics in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Kane shocked the wrestling world with unprecedented pyrotechnics, a complex backstory and a dark edge not seen in years. — Fox News, 7 June 2022 After this test, the rocket will roll back to the Vehicle Assembly Building to be outfitted with pyrotechnics and for other final tasks. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 18 Mar. 2022 Sure, setting off fireworks and running around with playfully dangerous sparklers can be fun, but some people would much rather watch other fools launch pyrotechnics into the sky from the safety of their homes. — Melanie Curry, ELLE, 1 June 2022 Ukraine’s foreign ministry tweeted last weekend that Patron helped pyrotechnics in Chernihiv clear over 260 explosive devices. — Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 9 May 2022 Feeding off the thundering bass and each other’s energy, the cousins bounced and rapped in unison as neon pyrotechnics lit up the stage. — Christi Carrasstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2022 Oviedo commissioners on Monday plan to enact a six-month moratorium on the sale of sparklers and fireworks after city officials said an outdoor vendor blatantly sold pyrotechnics that are not permitted under Oviedo’s rules. — Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2022 Muti kept it that way, directing authoritatively but sans podium pyrotechnics. — Hannah Edgar, chicagotribune.com, 1 Apr. 2022 Confetti cannons and smoke machines got bigger, pyrotechnics got larger, and drop after drop, EDM became more and more a spectacle. — SPIN, 3 Mar. 2022 See More

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

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