high explosive
A chemist carefully handles a small sample of high explosive in a secure laboratory.
Noun: A high explosive is a powerful chemical explosive substance characterized by its extremely rapid decomposition. This decomposition produces gas at a very high rate, generating a supersonic shock wave known as a detonation. High explosives are typically used for blasting, demolition, and in military munitions, as opposed to low explosives which deflagrate (burn rapidly) rather than detonate.
The term "high explosive" is used to classify and describe explosives based on their reaction speed and power. It is often contrasted with "low explosive." - It functions primarily as a countable noun (e.g., a high explosive, several high explosives). - It is commonly used in military, engineering, mining, and safety contexts.
- The demolition team used a high explosive to bring down the old building safely and efficiently.
- Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a classic example of a high explosive.
- Safety protocols for transporting high explosives are extremely stringent.
- The shell was filled with a powerful high explosive.
- As a modifier: The term is frequently used attributively (like an adjective) before other nouns to specify the type of explosive or related concept.
- high-explosive shell
- high-explosive filler
- high-explosive round
- HE: A common abbreviation, especially in military nomenclature (e.g., ).
- Detonator: A device used to initiate the detonation of a high explosive.
- Primary explosive: A highly sensitive explosive used to trigger a larger, less sensitive secondary high explosive.
- Blasting agent: A less sensitive material that can be detonated only by a high-explosive primer.
- Detonating explosive: A technical synonym emphasizing the mode of reaction.
- Brisant explosive: A term highlighting the shattering effect of the explosive.
- Low explosive: An explosive that undergoes deflagration (subsonic combustion) rather than detonation (e.g., black powder, gunpowder).
A chemist carefully handles a small sample of high explosive in a secure laboratory.
- a powerful chemical explosive that produces gas at a very high rate