EXPLOSIVE


Meaning of EXPLOSIVE in English

I. ex ‧ plo ‧ sive 1 /ɪkˈspləʊsɪv $ -ˈsploʊ-/ BrE AmE adjective

[ Word Family: adjective : exploding, ↑ explosive , ↑ exploded , ↑ unexploded ; noun : ↑ explosion , ↑ explosive ; verb : ↑ explode ; adverb : ↑ explosively ]

1 . able 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 . [usually before noun] relating to or like an explosion:

the explosive force of volcanoes

3 . likely to become violent or to cause feelings of violence:

He’s good at defusing potentially explosive situations.

the explosive issue of uncontrolled immigration

4 . showing sudden strong or angry emotion:

Both men suddenly spoke in the same explosive tone of voice.

5 . [usually before noun] increasing suddenly or quickly in amount or number:

the explosive growth of microcomputers

6 . an explosive sound is sudden and loud

—explosively adverb

—explosiveness noun [uncountable]

II. explosive 2 BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]

[ Word Family: adjective : exploding, ↑ explosive , ↑ exploded , ↑ unexploded ; noun : ↑ explosion , ↑ explosive ; verb : ↑ explode ; adverb : ↑ explosively ]

a substance that can cause an explosion

⇨ ↑ plastic explosive

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.