Explosives: meaning, definitions and examples

General term for substances that can cause explosions; used in scientific, industrial, or military settings.

• The engineers tested different explosives to find the most effective one for the demolition

Specifically refers to explosive devices placed or dropped with the intent to destroy or damage targets; common in military and terrorist contexts.

• Bombs were planted in various parts of the city as part of a coordinated attack

Small explosive devices that are typically thrown by hand or launched from a special device, commonly used in military combat.

• The soldier threw a grenade into the enemy bunker to flush out the opponents

A specific type of explosive invented by Alfred Nobel, commonly used in construction, mining, and sometimes in criminal activities.

• The construction crew used dynamite to break through the rock