afterdamp
/'ɑ:ftər,imidʤ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A toxic mixture of gases remaining after a mine explosion: "Afterdamp" refers specifically to the poisonous atmosphere created in a coal mine following an explosion of firedamp (methane). This mixture typically contains carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen, which are lethal due to suffocation or poisoning.
Usage
- Afterdamp is a technical term used primarily in the context of mining, industrial history, and occupational safety. It describes a dangerous post-explosion condition.
- It functions as a singular, uncountable noun (e.g., ).
Examples
- Noun:
- The rescue team was delayed by the presence of afterdamp in the tunnel.
- Many historical mining fatalities were caused not by the initial blast but by inhaling afterdamp.
Advanced Usage
- Historical/Literary Context: The term is often found in accounts of historical mining disasters.
- The official report cited afterdamp as the primary cause of death following the firedamp ignition.
Variants and Related Words
- Firedamp (n): The flammable gas (primarily methane) found in coal mines that can ignite and cause an explosion, leading to afterdamp.
- Blackdamp (n): Another mine gas, primarily nitrogen and carbon dioxide, that lacks oxygen and causes suffocation. It is distinct from afterdamp, which results from an explosion.
- Whitedamp (n): Carbon monoxide gas in mines.
Synonyms
- Poisonous mine gas: A general descriptive synonym.
- Choke-damp: An older, less specific term for various suffocating mine gases, sometimes used interchangeably with afterdamp in historical texts.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- To be overcome by afterdamp: A phrase describing the cause of death or incapacitation in a mine.
- Several miners were found to have been overcome by afterdamp.
Noun
- a toxic mixture of gases (including carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide and nitrogen) after an explosion of firedamp in a mine