[ex.plo.sive] adj (1667) 1 a: relating to, characterized by, or operated by explosion "an ~ hatch" b: resulting from or as if from an explosion "~ population growth"
2. a: tending to explode "an ~ person" b: likely to erupt in or produce hostile reaction or violence "an ~ ghetto situation" -- ex.plo.sive.ly adv -- ex.plo.sive.ness n
[2]explosive n (1874) 1: an explosive substance
2: a consonant characterized by explosion in its articulation when it occurs in certain environments: stop