brisance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Formal
Quick answer
What does “brisance” mean?
The shattering or crushing effect of an explosive, measured by its ability to destroy surrounding material.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The shattering or crushing effect of an explosive, measured by its ability to destroy surrounding material.
In a figurative sense, it can describe the sudden, disruptive force or impact of an event, idea, or personality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Technical precision, destructive power, controlled violence.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse, confined to specific technical fields. Slightly more likely to appear in British military history texts.
Grammar
How to Use “brisance” in a Sentence
The [explosive] has a high/low brisance.They measured the brisance of the [material].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brisance” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No verb form in standard use]
American English
- [No verb form in standard use]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form]
American English
- [No standard adverb form]
adjective
British English
- The brisant effect was carefully calculated.
- They needed a more brisant compound.
American English
- The brisant effect was carefully calculated.
- They selected a highly brisant explosive for the task.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in materials science, engineering, and military history papers.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Core term in explosives engineering for comparing the local shattering effect of different explosives (e.g., TNT vs. dynamite).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brisance”
- Using it as a general synonym for 'explosion' or 'loud noise'.
- Pronouncing it as /ˈbraɪsəns/ (like 'brine').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly technical term used almost exclusively in fields related to explosives engineering, mining, and military science.
While possible, it is very rare and stylistically marked. It would be understood as a deliberate, literary metaphor for sudden, disruptive force.
Detonation velocity is the speed at which the explosive reaction travels through the material. Brisance is the *effect* of that detonation—its shattering capability on its surroundings. A high velocity often correlates with high brisance, but they are distinct properties.
The adjective is 'brisant' (e.g., a brisant explosive).
The shattering or crushing effect of an explosive, measured by its ability to destroy surrounding material.
Brisance is usually technical / formal in register.
Brisance: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbriːzɒns/, and in American English it is pronounced /brɪˈzɑːns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'brisance' as the 'brittle-shatter'ance' of an explosion – its power to make things brittle and shatter them.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXPLOSIVE FORCE IS A SHATTERING TOOL.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'brisance' most accurately used?