Definition of "explosive" in English

adjective

1. Able to, or likely to, explode.

   • an explosive device

2. Having the character of an explosion.

   • an explosive fire

3. (figurative) Rapidly accelerating.

   • Near-synonym: plyometric
   • explosive movements

4. (figurative) Shocking; startling.

   • an explosive accusation

5. (slang) Easily driven to anger, usually with reference to a person.

   • He has an explosive personality.

6. (phonetics, archaic) Synonym of plosive.

   • the explosive consonants

noun

1. Any explosive substance.

2. (linguistics, dated) A plosive.