I. ˈdīnəˌmīt, usu -īd.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary dynam- + -ite; originally formed as Swedish dynamit
1. : a solid blasting explosive used especially in mining, quarrying, and engineering that contains nitroglycerin incorporated with a base which increases the safety of handling: as
a. : an explosive in which the base (as kieselguhr) is inert
b. : an explosive in which the base is active and consists essentially of a carbonaceous combustible material (as wood pulp) and an oxidizing material (as sodium nitrate) — called also straight dynamite
c. : a strong explosive similar to a straight dynamite but containing ammonium nitrate in place of part of the nitroglycerin and often part of the oxidizing material — called also ammonia dynamite
d. : gelatin dynamite
2. : a blasting explosive used similarly to dynamite but containing an essential constituent (as nitrostarch) other than nitroglycerin
3. : one that is characterized by notable vitality, power, or effectiveness
box-office dynamite — Steve McNeil
not only is he tough and ruthless; he is also dynamite with the ladies — Saturday Review
also : something that has great potential (as for causing strife or trouble)
devaluation is dynamite and politicians don't like its sound — M.A.Heilperin
this letter is dynamite — Erle Stanley Gardner
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to charge with dynamite
2. : to blow up or shatter with dynamite
3. : to cause the utter failure or destruction of
it is easy to dynamite an industrial system — M.R.Cohen
the board has dynamited its own findings in two particulars — B.H.Kizer
III. adjective
Etymology: dynamite , noun
: terrific : wonderful