explosive device

Other forms: explosive devices

Definitions of explosive device

1. noun

   device that bursts with sudden violence from internal energy
   types:

   bomb

   an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions

   cap, detonating device, detonator

   a mechanical or electrical explosive device or a small amount of explosive; can be used to initiate the reaction of a disrupting explosive

   FAE, fuel-air explosive

   a device consisting of a container of fuel and two explosive charges; the first charge bursts open the fuel container at a predetermined height and spreads the fuel in a cloud that mixes with atmospheric oxygen; the second charge detonates the cloud which creates an enormous blast wave and incinerates whatever is below

   I.E.D., IED, improvised explosive device

   an explosive device that is improvised

   mine

   explosive device that explodes on contact; designed to destroy vehicles or ships or to kill or maim personnel

   petard

   an explosive device used to break down a gate or wall

   seal bomb

   a small explosive device (resembling a firecracker) that is used underwater in order to frighten mammals away from fishing grounds

   shoe bomb

   an explosive device concealed inside the heel and sole of a shoe

   torpedo

   a small explosive device that is placed on a railroad track and fires when a train runs over it; the sound of the explosion warns the engineer of danger ahead

   torpedo

   an explosive device that is set off in an oil well (or a gas well) to start or to increase the flow of oil (or gas)

   A-bomb, atom bomb, atomic bomb, fission bomb, plutonium bomb

   a nuclear weapon in which enormous energy is released by nuclear fission (splitting the nuclei of a heavy element like uranium 235 or plutonium 239)

   Fugo, balloon bomb

   a bomb carried by a balloon

   blasting cap

   a small tube filled with detonating substances; used to detonate high explosives

   bomblet, cluster bomblet

   one of the smaller bombs that are released from a cluster bomb

   bombshell

   an explosive bomb or artillery shell

   briefcase bomb

   a bomb consisting of an explosive and timer hidden inside a briefcase

   car bomb

   a bomb placed in a car and wired to explode when the ignition is started or by remote control or by a timing device

   chemical bomb, gas bomb

   a bomb laden with chemical agents that are released when the bomb explodes

   cluster bomb

   bomb consisting of a canister that is dropped from a plane and that opens to release a cluster of bomblets (usually fragmentation bombs) over a wide area

   cruise missile

   an unmanned aircraft that is a self-contained bomb

   depth bomb, depth charge

   a bomb that explodes at a preset depth under water; antisubmarine device

   dumb bomb, gravity bomb

   a bomb that falls because of gravity and is not guided to a target

   floating mine, marine mine

   an explosive mine designed to destroy ships that bump into it

   anti-personnel bomb, antipersonnel bomb, daisy cutter, fragmentation bomb

   a bomb with only 10 to 20 per cent explosive and the remainder consisting of casings designed to break into many small high-velocity fragments; most effective against troops and vehicles

   gas shell

   (military) bomb consisting of an explosive projectile filled with a toxic gas that is released when the bomb explodes

   GP bomb, general-purpose bomb

   a large bomb (500 to 2,000 pounds that is 50% explosive) whose explosion creates a blast and whose metal casing creates some fragmentation effect

   grenade

   a small explosive bomb thrown by hand or fired from a missile

   H-bomb, fusion bomb, hydrogen bomb, thermonuclear bomb

   a nuclear weapon that releases atomic energy by union of light (hydrogen) nuclei at high temperatures to form helium

   firebomb, incendiary, incendiary bomb

   a bomb that is designed to start fires; is most effective against flammable targets (such as fuel)

   booby trap, ground-emplaced mine, land mine

   an explosive mine hidden underground; explodes when stepped on or driven over

   letter bomb, package bomb, parcel bomb

   a thin explosive device inside an envelope or package and detonated when opened

   megaton bomb

   a nuclear weapon with an explosive power equivalent to one million tons of TNT

   E-bomb, microwave bomb

   a bomb that explodes in midair and releases a massive burst of electromagnetic energy sufficient to disable computers and telecommunications without killing people or damaging buildings

   Molotov cocktail, gasoline bomb, petrol bomb

   a crude incendiary bomb made of a bottle filled with flammable liquid and fitted with a rag wick

   penetration bomb

   a bomb with about 30% explosive and a casing designed to penetrate hardened targets before the explosive detonates

   percussion cap

   a detonator that explodes when struck

   pipe bomb

   a small homemade bomb usually contained in a metal pipe

   plastic bomb

   a bomb made of plastic explosive

   remote-control bomb

   a bomb that can be detonated by remote control

   smart bomb

   a bomb that can be guided (by a laser beam or radio) to its target

   smoke bomb, smoke grenade

   a bomb that gives off thick smoke when it explodes; used to make a smoke screen or to mark a position

   stench bomb, stink bomb

   a small bomb designed to give off a foul odor when it explodes

   aerosol bomb, fuel-air bomb, thermobaric bomb, vacuum bomb, volume-detonation bomb

   a bomb that uses a fuel-air explosive

   infernal machine, time bomb

   a bomb that has a detonating mechanism that can be set to go off at a particular time

   type of:

   device

   an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose