detonator
C1Formal, Technical
Definition
Meaning
A device used to trigger the explosion of a bomb or other explosive material.
Any person, event, or thing that triggers a sudden, significant, or explosive change, reaction, or event.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a concrete noun for a physical device. The extended metaphorical use (e.g., 'a detonator for social unrest') is less frequent and more literary/figurative.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical technical and formal connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general discourse but standard in technical/military contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
attach/connect the detonator to [explosive]activate/set off the detonatorthe detonator for [event/device]a detonator consisting of [components]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to be] the detonator for... (figurative)”
- “push the detonator (figurative, for causing a crisis)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Figuratively: 'The scandal was the detonator for the company's collapse.'
Academic
Used in history (warfare), engineering, chemistry, and political science (metaphorical).
Everyday
Very rare outside discussions of bombs, action movies, or major news events.
Technical
Standard term in explosives engineering, mining, demolition, and military contexts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The police found a bomb with a timer attached to the detonator.
- In the film, the hero had to cut the right wire to the detonator.
- Demolition experts carefully wired the detonators to the structural columns.
- The investigative report identified the new tax law as the detonator for the widespread protests.
- The device utilised a sophisticated piezoelectric detonator, sensitive to precise pressure thresholds.
- His inflammatory speech acted as a political detonator, shattering the fragile coalition government.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DETONATE + OR. The '-or' suffix often indicates an agent or device that does something (like 'elevator' lifts). A detonator is the device that *does* the detonating.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SMALL CAUSE FOR A BIG EXPLOSION / A TRIGGER FOR A SUDDEN CHANGE. The device metaphorically maps to any small, initial event that causes a large, sudden outcome.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'детонатор' which is a direct cognate and accurate. The trap is overusing the metaphorical sense, which is less common in English than the Russian figurative use of 'детонатор'.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing it /diːˈtɒn.eɪ.tər/ (stress on second syllable).
- Using it as a verb (to detonator something) instead of the correct verb 'to detonate'.
- Confusing with 'dynamite' (the explosive itself) or 'fuse' (the slow-burning cord).
Practice
Quiz
In a metaphorical sense, what is most likely to be described as a 'detonator'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A detonator is a device (often a small explosive cap) that initiates the main explosion. A fuse is a cord or pathway (chemical, electrical, or digital) that carries the initiation signal *to* the detonator. You light a fuse which then activates the detonator.
No. The correct verb is 'to detonate'. You detonate an explosive using a detonator.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term. Most people encounter it in news reports about terrorism/bombings, in military/action contexts, or in technical fields like mining or demolition.
In many technical contexts, they are synonyms. However, 'blasting cap' is a specific type of detonator—a small tube containing a primary explosive—used particularly in mining and construction. 'Detonator' is the broader, more general term.
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