explosive compound
- noun
- /ɪkˈsploʊsɪv ˈkɑmpaʊnd/
- Specialized
- He presided over the colony during the 1775 gunpowder plot, in which a group of American sympathizers stole hundreds of barrels of the explosive compound from a St. George's fort.
Examples
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No trace of explosive compounds on the farm.
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Nitroglycerin is a highly unstable explosive compound that can cause massive explosions when not handled carefully.
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The researchers tested various explosive compounds to evaluate their effectiveness in controlled demolitions.
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During the investigation, authorities discovered several dangerous explosive compounds stored improperly in the warehouse.
Synonyms
A chemical that reacts very fast, making gas and heat to blast things
A strong explosive made from a yellow material used to break rock or destroy buildings
A very strong chemical that explodes quickly and makes a lot of gas and energy
A soft, strong material used to make bombs or to break large things
A colorless liquid that is poisonous, smells bad, and can explode
A mix of chemicals that can burst apart with great force when heated or hit
An explosive that burns slowly and does not make a strong shock wave like black powder
A strong chemical charge in shells or bombs that makes a violent blast
A yellow solid explosive used in detonators and as a base for other explosives
A very unstable chemical that explodes easily when hit or heated and people use in small explosive devices
A small bomb that makes a sudden blast to break things like a wall or lock
A substance that explodes to push a shell or rocket forward
A strong chemical that pushes shells, rockets, or torpedoes forward
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: the adjective 'explosive' (capable of exploding) modifies the noun 'compound' (a chemical substance), yielding a substance that can explode. This is a straightforward adjective+noun combination following common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Explosive compound comes from its two parts: compound means a chemical made of parts joined together and explosive describes something that can 'explode' or burst apart quickly. So an explosive compound is a chemical mixture that can 'explode' in a sudden, powerful reaction.