Word family noun explosion explosive adjective exploding explosive exploded unexploded verb explode adverb explosively
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishexplosiveex‧plo‧sive1 /ɪkˈspləʊsɪv $ -ˈsploʊ-/ ●○○ adjective 1 EXPLODEable or likely to explode Because the gas is highly explosive, it needs to be kept in high-pressure containers. A small explosive device (=bomb) was set off outside the UN headquarters today.2 VIOLENT[usually before noun] relating to or like an explosion the explosive force of volcanoes3 VIOLENTlikely to become violent or to cause feelings of violence He’s good at defusing potentially explosive situations. the explosive issue of uncontrolled immigration4 EMOTIONALshowing sudden strong or angry emotion Both men suddenly spoke in the same explosive tone of voice.5 INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT[usually before noun] increasing suddenly or quickly in amount or number the explosive growth of microcomputers6 LOUD/NOISYan explosive sound is sudden and loud —explosively adverb —explosiveness noun [uncountable]Examples from the Corpus
explosive• an explosive device• Pretty soon that may be an explosive error.• A similar approach has been applied to marine records of explosive eruptions in the Bay of Naples.• He was to suffer from bouts of explosive flatulence for the rest of his life.• an explosive force of 15,000 tons of TNT• the explosive growth of the computer industry• the explosive issue of abortion• And, like her father, it slipped away in one explosive moment.• Doyle's explosive shot starred the side window.• Overcrowding and lack of jobs in the area have created an explosive situation.• an explosive sound• The paper's editors knew they had an explosive story.• Jamie and Lisa would have been a far more explosive storyline.• a man with an explosive temperhighly explosive• Dynamite is highly explosive.• It is difficult to maintain a consistent level of surgical anaesthesia with ether and it is in addition highly explosive.• Each plant handles a range of highly explosive, corrosive and toxic raw materials.potentially explosive• The most potentially explosive area of contact between headquarters and the Boards was in financial control.• Thus there was a combination of potentially explosive contributory factors.• Their presence in the alliance masks deep and potentially explosive differences.• Such testimony, unheard of in El Salvador, is potentially explosive in a state that has tried to bury its past.explosiveexplosive2 ●○○ noun [countable, uncountable] SCBa substance that can cause an explosion → plastic explosiveExamples from the Corpus
explosive• When they searched his vehicle, they found explosives.• Clusters of fire bombs falling from the planes, followed by tons of high explosives.• I think I would take a train into a siding somewhere and load it with high explosive.• Nearby a new chemical industry makes explosives, fertilisers, and nylon fibres.• A man and a woman were charged on April 15 with conspiracy to cause explosions and with possession of explosives and arms.• He was arrested at his cabin last week on a holding charge of possessing explosives materials.• Such explosives would be far more powerful than existing non-nuclear explosives.• Collect the explosives, batteries and torch. 20. 