I. ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌāt, ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌnāt, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin detonatus, past participle of detonare to thunder down, from de down, away + tonare to thunder — more at de- , thunder
intransitive verb
: to explode almost instantaneously : undergo detonation — distinguished from deflagrate
transitive verb
: to cause to detonate
detonate TNT
detonate an atom bomb
II. transitive verb
: to set off in a burst of activity : spark
programs that detonated controversies