detonate

Meaning

1. (intransitive) To explode, blow up
2. (especially, intransitive) To explode, blow up
3. (transitive) To cause to explode.
4. (figuratively, intransitive) To express sudden anger.

Opposite of

deflagrate

Synonyms

explode

blow up

burst

blast

set off

bang

fulminate

go off

pop

rupture

shoot

combust

crack

displode

backfire

demolition blast

blow out

burst out

catch fire

deflagrate

erupt

fire

🔥

Translations

detonare

détoner

detonar

detonar

detonieren

exploser

explodieren

εκπυρσοκροτώ

esplodere

🔥

detonar

فجّر

klopfen

sprengen

zerknallen

détonner

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈdɛtəneɪt/

Etymology

First attested in 1729; either borrowed from French détoner or directly from Latin dētonātus, perfect passive participle of dētonō (“to thunder down (strongly); (figuratively, of a person) to thunder, speak threateningly, to rage; to stop thundering”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from dē- (“off, from”) + tonō (“to thunder”)). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tenh₂-. The current interlingual meaning seems to be a new formation in postclassical times (to thunder → make a large noise → explode), compare explode.