noun
detonation
det-uh-NAY-shun/ˌdetəˈneɪʃn/
An explosion in which a reaction spreads through a shock wave.
The controlled detonation sends a shock wave through the test area.
Etymology
The pieces evoke an act of “thundering down” or roaring out. Detonation first described an explosion accompanied by a loud sound, connecting the thunder image to the explosive event named in the chemical sense.
In context
Detonator cord connects all the explosives in the drill holes it transmits the detonation signal to fire the explosives in a carefully timed sequence
More examples
- Several detonations were recorded.
- The instrument detected the detonation.
- The study distinguished detonation from slower combustion.
Forms
detonation · detonations
detonate verb — explode
Similar words
- explosion
- The broader event category.
- combustion
- Burning that need not propagate through a shock wave.