Dynamite Meaning
/ˈdʌɪnəmʌɪt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA class of explosives made from nitroglycerine in an absorbent medium such as kieselguhr, used in mining and blasting.
nounA stick of trinitrotoluene (TNT).
Sentence Examples
The dynamite went off with a bang.
We blew up a huge rock with dynamite.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The worker carefully handled the ____ to avoid a dangerous explosion.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ went off with a bang.
Word Origin & History
Coined by Alfred Nobel in 1867. Ultimately from Ancient Greek δύναμις (dúnamis, “power”) + -ite, most likely under the influence of dynamo or dynamic.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Even though sometimes I take differing views from some articles and letters in GCN, I think it's a dynamite piece of work. Good luck and thanks again."
— 1977 April 30, Steve Sasville, “To Clothe Or Not...”, in Gay Community News, page 6:
"And your shoulders are frozen (Cold as the night) / Oh, but you're an explosion (You're dynamite)"
— 2005, Alex Turner, “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor”, performed by Arctic Monkeys:
"That girl was dynamite. Dark hair with killer blue eyes, bronze skin, and an exquisite full-figured body.
He warned us: "That issue about what's been happening at that factory, is political dynamite. Keep the lid on it.""
— 2016, Kit Moulton, Annabella, page 108:
"Gradually the construction gangs cut and dynamited their way through some of the most difficult country in the world."
— 1954 February, Trevor Holloway, “Canada's Transcontinental Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 128:
"[...] on Sunday, August 23, the L.N.W.R. tunnel was closed to enable the old brickwork to be dynamited away, traffic being diverted meanwhile through the M.R. tunnel."
— 1960 February, R. C. Riley, “The London-Birmingham services - Past, Present and Future”, in Trains Illustrated, page 101:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The worker carefully handled the ____ to avoid a dangerous explosion.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ went off with a bang.