dynamite

noun

1. 1

   A class of explosives made from nitroglycerine in an absorbent medium such as kieselguhr, used in mining and blasting.

2. 2

   informalA stick of trinitrotoluene (TNT).

3. 3

   figurativeAnything exceptionally dangerous, exciting or wonderful.

   Even though sometimes I take differing views from some articles and letters in GCN, I think it's a dynamite piece of work. Good luck and thanks again.

   And your shoulders are frozen (Cold as the night) / Oh, but you're an explosion (You're dynamite)

   That girl was dynamite. Dark hair with killer blue eyes, bronze skin, and an exquisite full-figured body. He warned us: "That issue about what's been happening at that factory, is political dynamite. Keep the lid on it."

4. 4

   slangA strong drug, in particular heroin, cocaine or potent marijuana.

verb

1. 1

   To blow up with dynamite or other high explosive.

   Gradually the construction gangs cut and dynamited their way through some of the most difficult country in the world.

   [...] on Sunday, August 23, the L.N.W.R. tunnel was closed to enable the old brickwork to be dynamited away, traffic being diverted meanwhile through the M.R. tunnel.

2. 2

   figurativeTo dismantle or destroy.

   Even the successful battle in the last century to overturn the court’s infamous Plessy vs. Ferguson “separate but equal” doctrine wasn’t a frontal assault that dynamited precedent.

   Cue the appalling thought of a Haiti equaliser that would dynamite Scotland's hopes of doing what they came here to do - making history by making it out of a group in a World Cup.

3. 3

   To apply maximum pressure to very quickly.

   dynamite the brakes

   Juan dynamited the brakes and the car skidded to a halt.

   The 1977 Pontiacs had a tendency of dying if you were at high speed and dynamited the brakes.

   At the critical moment I'd learned from countless action flicks I dynamited the brakes and felt the impact of the sedan against my rear bumper.

4. 4

   To lock up from being invoked too suddenly.

   the brakes will dynamite

Forms

plural

dynamites

past tense

dynamited

past participle

dynamited

present participle

dynamiting

third person singular

dynamites