EnglishMain Dictionary
explosive
Universal Words
adjective, noun
adjective
1 easily able or likely to explode:
an explosive device (= a bomb) * an explosive mixture of chemicals * Hydrogen is highly explosive.
2 likely to cause violence or strong feelings of anger or hatred:
a potentially explosive situation * one of the most explosive issues of our time
3 often having sudden violent or angry feelings:
an explosive temper
4 increasing suddenly and rapidly:
the explosive growth of the export market
5 (of a sound) sudden and loud:
There was an explosive crash and then everything fell silent.
explosively adverb:
The company has grown explosively over the last two years.
noun [C,U] a substance that is able or likely to cause an explosion:
nuclear / plastic explosives * The bomb was packed with several pounds of high explosive.
