thermite: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Yes, because the thermite reaction supplies its own oxygen from the metal oxide; it does not require atmospheric oxygen and can proceed underwater or in other oxygen-poor environments.

No. Thermite is the classic aluminium-iron oxide mixture. Thermate is a variant, often used in incendiary grenades, which typically adds sulphur and barium nitrate to thermite to lower its ignition temperature and produce more flame.

Its main civilian use is in thermite welding (also called exothermic welding) for joining electrical conductors or railway tracks. Historically and militarily, it has been used in incendiary bombs and grenades.

It burns at an extremely high temperature and is a self-contained reaction. Pouring water on it can cause explosive steam generation, potentially spreading the burning material. It must burn out on its own or be smothered with massive amounts of specific dry chemicals or sand.

A highly energetic incendiary mixture of a metal powder (commonly aluminium) and a metal oxide (commonly iron oxide), which when ignited produces an exothermic oxidation-reduction reaction, generating intense heat.

Thermite is usually technical/specialist in register.

Thermite: in British English it is pronounced /ˈθɜːmaɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈθɜːrmaɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.