detonation

See also: Detonation and détonation

English

Etymology

From French détonation; equivalent to detonate +‎ -ion.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /dɛtəˈneɪʃən/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

detonation (countable and uncountable, plural detonations)

  1. (chemistry) An explosion or sudden report made by the near-instantaneous decomposition or combustion of unstable substances. Specifically, combustion that spreads supersonically via shock compression.
    the detonation of gun cotton
    1. (by extension) Any sudden explosion made by an exothermic process (whether chemical or not) that produces a supersonic shock wave.
      a nuclear detonation
  2. (mechanical engineering) Engine knocking, a type of improper combustion in gasoline piston engines.

Usage notes

The use of detonation to refer to engine knocking is mostly confined to aircraft engines.

Antonyms

Hypernyms

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

Danish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /detonaˈɕoˀn/

Noun

detonation c (singular definite detonationen, plural indefinite detonationer)

  1. detonation

Declension

Declension of detonation
common
gender
singular plural
indefinite definite indefinite definite
nominative detonation detonationen detonationer detonationerne
genitive detonations detonationens detonationers detonationernes

Further reading

Swedish

Noun

detonation c

  1. detonation

Declension

See also

References