Gelignite

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Gelignite

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

JEL-ig-nyte  /ˈdʒɛlɪɡnʌɪt/

Definition

A high explosive made from nitroglycerine, nitrocellulose, wood pulp, and potassium or sodium nitrate, used in mining, quarrying, and demolition.

Plain meaning

Gelignite is a powerful explosive — a stable, putty-like high explosive developed from nitroglycerine and used in mining and construction blasting.

Register

Technical and specialist. Associated with mining engineering, quarrying, and demolition. Also appears in crime and terrorism contexts because of its use in improvised explosive devices.