v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Detonated p. pr. & vb. n. Detonating ] [ L. detonare, v. i., to thunder down; de + tonare to thunder; akin to E. thunder. See Thunder, and cf. Detonize. ] To explode with a sudden report; as, niter detonates with sulphur. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cause to explode; to cause to burn or inflame with a sudden report. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. from Detonate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Detonating gas, a mixture of two volumes of hydrogen with one volume of oxygen, which explodes with a loud report upon ignition. --
Detonating powder, any powder or solid substance, as fulminate of mercury, which when struck, explodes with violence and a loud report. --
Detonating primer, a primer exploded by a fuse; -- used to explode gun cotton in blasting operations. --
Detonating tube, a strong tube of glass, usually graduated, closed at one end, and furnished with two wires passing through its sides at opposite points, and nearly meeting, for the purpose of exploding gaseous mixtures by an electric spark, as in gas analysis, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. détonation. ] An explosion or sudden report made by the instantaneous decomposition or combustion of unstable substances; as, the detonation of gun cotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One that detonates; specif.: (a) An explosive whose action is practically instantaneous. (b) Something used to detonate a charge, as a detonating fuse. (c) A case containing detonating powder, the explosion of which serves as a signal, as on railroads. (d) A gun fired by a percussion cap. [ Obs. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]