a white, crystalline, water-insoluble, powerful high explosive, C 3 H 6 N 6 O 6 , used chiefly in bombs and shells. Also called cyclonite, cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine .
[ 1940-45; R ( esearch ) D ( epartment ) ( E ) x ( plosive ), referring to such a department in Woolwich, England ]