Detonate

v. i. [imp. & p. p. DETONATED; p. pr. & vb. n. DETONATING.] [Lat. detonare, detonatum, to thunder down or away, from de and tonare, to thunder; It. detonare, Sp. detonar, Fr. détoner.] (Chem.) To explode with a sudden report; as, niter detonates with sulphur.

Detonating powder (Chem.), any compound, which, when struck, explodes with violence and a loud report. — Detonating tube, a strong tube of glass, usually graduated, closed at one end, and furnished with two wires passing through its sides at opposite points, and nearly meeting, for the purpose of exploding gaseous mixtures by an electric spark.