Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
pentrite

pentrite

1 9.9
A very strong explosive used in detonators and military bombs
  • noun
  • /ˈpɛntraɪt/
  • NSFW
: pentrita
  • C4 or pentrite, sealing the caves and tunnels in a mound of earth.

Examples

  • I wonder if while in the earth he heard our loud and soft noises, our footsteps and breath, our C4 and pentrite, our whispered chatter and terrible.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The military used pentrite in the detonators for their explosives due to its high power and reliability.

  • Engineers chose pentrite for the demolition project because of its effectiveness in breaking down concrete structures.

  • During their training, the soldiers learned how to safely handle pentrite, a potent explosive used in various military applications.

Surface Forms

pentrite singular
pentrites plural

Etymology

Pentrite comes from the chemical name PETN, made from the root penta- meaning 'five' and the word nitrate. You can see penta- in pentagon, which helps you remember 'five'. So, pentrite is the name for a very powerful explosive used in detonators, and thinking 'five' plus 'nitrate' helps you recall that it is a chemical explosive.