detonate
verbNAmE//ˈdɛtnˌeɪt//
[intransitive, transitive] detonate (something)Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they detonate he / she / it detonates
past simple detonated
-ing form detonating
- blow up
- go off
- burst
- erupt
- detonate
- explode to burst loudly and violently, causing damage; to make something burst in this way:The jet smashed into a hillside and exploded. The bomb was exploded under controlled conditions.
- blow (something) up (somewhat informal) to be destroyed by an explosion; to destroy something by an explosion:A police officer was killed when her car blew up.
- go off (of a bomb) to explode; (of a gun) to be fired:The bomb went off in a crowded street. When used about guns, the choice of go off (instead of “be fired”) can suggest that the gun was fired by accident.
- burst to break open or apart, especially because of pressure from inside; to make something break in this way:A water pipe burst and flooded the kitchen.
- erupt (of a volcano) to throw out burning rocks and smoke; (of burning rocks and smoke) to be thrown out of a volcano:Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980.
- detonate (somewhat formal) (of a bomb) to explode; to make a bomb explode:Two other bombs failed to detonate.
- a bomb explodes/blows up/goes off/bursts/detonates
- a car/plane/vehicle explodes/blows up
- a firework/rocket explodes/goes off
Check pronunciation: detonate