verb
detonate
DET-uh-nayt/ˈdetəneɪt/
To explode or cause something to explode.
The firework detonates in a bright burst above the field.
Etymology
Whether formed from detonation or directly from Latin, the underlying image is “thundering down” or roaring out. That loud, sudden sound connects the thunder root to exploding, and then to causing an explosion.
In context
we can detonate them as soldiers drive by and that's really when we started seeing the mass casualties pile up is when these projectiles and these missiles and bombs and such started getting used as improvised explosive devices
More examples
- The charge detonated.
- Engineers detonated the old explosive safely.
- A controlled charge is detonating nearby.
Forms
detonate · detonates · detonated · detonating
detonation noun — an explosion