amatol

Amatol is used in controlled demolition to bring down old structures.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A high explosive: "amatol" refers to a type of explosive mixture composed of ammonium nitrate and trinitrotoluene (TNT). It was widely used in military munitions, especially during World War I and World War II, because it was cheaper and more stable than pure TNT.

Usage Examples

• (A military explosive mixture used in artillery.)
• (An explosive used in wartime manufacturing.)

Advanced Usage

• "Amatol's stability": a reference to its relative safety in handling compared to other explosives.

  • The military valued amatol's stability during transport and storage. (It was less likely to detonate accidentally.)

• "Amatol's composition": the specific ratio of ammonium nitrate to TNT (typically 80% ammonium nitrate and 20% TNT).

  • The standard amatol mixture was 80% ammonium nitrate and 20% TNT. (The chemical proportions of the explosive.)

Variants and Related Words

• Amatol-based (adj): made from or containing amatol.

  • Amatol-based bombs were common in World War II. (Explosives using amatol as the main component.)

• Amatol-filled (adj): filled with amatol.

  • The shells were amatol-filled to maximize destructive power. (Containing amatol as the explosive filler.)

Synonyms

• Explosive mixture: a combination of substances that can explode.
• High explosive: a material that detonates rapidly with great force.

Related Idioms

Phrasal Verbs