Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
💣 To make explode 😡 To protest strongly ⚡ To worsen suddenly 💥 An explosive salt
fulminate

fulminate

9.9
A very sensitive explosive chemical used in small detonators
  • noun
  • /ˈfʌlmɪneɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fulminato
  • FULMINATES OVER HIS CREAM OF WHEAT.

Examples

  • To safely demonstrate the explosive properties, he used a small amount of fulminate in the detonation test.

  • The construction crew handled the fulminate with extreme caution due to its volatile nature.

  • If that were true, it would be I the fulminate.

    Sign of the Pagan (1954)

  • 75 grains of fulminate of mercury in each of them.

    The Guns of Navarone (1961)

  • The experiment required a precise measurement of fulminate to ensure a controlled explosion.

Synonyms

fulminate of mercury
vsfulminate
  • Specialized
9.9

A very sensitive explosive used in detonators and percussion caps

is a broader class of salts or esters used in primers and detonators

Compounds

mercury fulminate
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A very sensitive explosive used in small caps to start larger explosions

fulminate of mercury
  • Specialized
9.9

A very sensitive explosive used in detonators and percussion caps

Surface Forms

fulminate singular
fulminates plural

Morphology

fulminate = fulmin + ate

The combining form 'fulmin' is obscure to average learners and the suffix '-ate' here names a chemical salt, a specialized formation not predictable from the components.

Etymology

Fulminate comes from the Latin word fulmen 'lightning', because these salts were known to explode with a sudden flash. So a fulminate is an explosive compound used to make a quick, powerful blast.