dynamite

[dahy-nuh-mahyt] /ˈdaɪ nəˌmaɪt/
noun
1.
a high explosive, originally consisting of nitroglycerin mixed with an absorbent substance, now with ammonium nitrate usually replacing the nitroglycerin.
2.
any person or thing having a spectacular effect.
verb (used with object), dynamited, dynamiting.
3.
to blow up, shatter, or destroy with dynamite:
Saboteurs dynamited the dam.
4.
to mine or charge with dynamite.
adjective
5.
Informal. creating a spectacular or optimum effect; great; topnotch:
a dynamite idea; a dynamite crew.
Origin
1867; < Swedish dynamit, introduced by A. B. Nobel, its inventor; see dyna(m)-, -ite1
Related forms
dynamiter, noun
dynamitic
[dahy-nuh-mit-ik] /ˌdaɪ nəˈmɪt ɪk/ (Show IPA), adjective
dynamitically, adverb
undynamited, adjective
Examples from the web for dynamite
  • They blew open the express car with dynamite and fired several shots at the trainmen, who attempted to escape.
  • The mountain rock is soft enough for the drill to do its work without dynamite.
  • Bees could be trained, through altered feeding habits, to swarm a vehicle packed with dynamite.
  • There's a smoked version that's dynamite for this guacamole.
  • After stoning the police post the mob set dynamite charges against its protective fence.
  • Then he yanks the fuse and heaves the stick of dynamite over the ridge.
  • The grainy footage showed surfers throwing dynamite in a river and surfing on the resulting waves.
  • Anything that might be condemned as torture is political dynamite.
  • To begin with, a lot of other people in the world are desperate, yet they have not gone around strapping dynamite to themselves.
  • But watch out: swipe that pack of dynamite and you loose all the fish left.
British Dictionary definitions for dynamite

dynamite

/ˈdaɪnəˌmaɪt/
noun
1.
an explosive consisting of nitroglycerine or ammonium nitrate mixed with kieselguhr, sawdust, or wood pulp
2.
(informal) a spectacular or potentially dangerous person or thing
verb
3.
(transitive) to mine or blow up with dynamite
Derived Forms
dynamiter, noun
Word Origin
C19 (coined by Alfred Nobel): from dynamo- + -ite1
Word Origin and History for dynamite
n.

1867, from Swedish dynamit, coined 1867 by its inventor, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), from Greek dynamis "power" (see dynamic (adj.)) + -ite (2). Figurative sense of "something potentially dangerous" is from 1922. Positive sense of "dynamic and excellent" by mid-1960s, perhaps originally Black English.

v.

1881, from dynamite (n.). Related: Dynamited; dynamiting.

dynamite in Science
dynamite
  (dī'nə-mīt')   
A powerful explosive used in blasting and mining. It typically consists of nitroglycerin and a nitrate (especially sodium nitrate or ammonium nitrate), combined with an absorbent material that makes it safer to handle.
Slang definitions & phrases for dynamite

dynamite

adjective

(also dyno-mite) Excellent; superior; super: ''Dynamite. I knew we'd get along/ DYN-OMITE! The Blammo 12-gauge has a precision-cast hollow-core slug with stabilization tail fins for accuracy at long range

noun
  1. Heroin or cocaine of high quality: a connection who deals in good-quality stuff, ''dynamite'' (1920s+ Narcotics)
  2. Marijuana, esp a marijuana cigarette (1950s+ Narcotics)
  3. Something very disturbing or dangerous; a sensation: Don't talk about it, it's dynamite (1930s+)