high-explosive
UK[ˌhaɪ ɪkˈspləʊsɪv]US[ˌhaɪ ɪkˈsploʊsɪv]
adj
(of a substance or device) capable of exploding with great force and rapidity, used especially in shells and bombs.
n
a high-explosive substance or device.
Morpheme Breakdown
high
explosive
high
great intensity
explosive
able to explode
Etymology
the compound term 'high-explosive' is a modern technical formation in english, combining the native english adjective 'high' in its intensive sense of "great degree" with the adjective 'explosive'. the word 'explosive' itself originates from the latin 'explodere', meaning "to drive out by clapping" or "to reject," which evolved in the 17th century to signify "to drive out with violence and noise." the suffix '-ive', from latin '-ivus', forms adjectives meaning "tending to" or "having the nature of." therefore, the literal construction "of great intensity + having the nature of exploding" precisely describes a substance characterized by a rapid and violent chemical reaction, generating a high-pressure shock wave, in contrast to slower-burning low explosives.
Analysis
Structure: high (great intensity) + explosive (able to explode)
high: old english, adjective-forming root meaning "of great vertical extent, elevated; of great intensity or degree."
explosive: modern english, adjective formed from the verb 'explode' plus the suffix '-ive', meaning "able to, having the nature of."
Examples
the artillery shell was filled with a powerful high-explosive charge.
soldiers were trained in the safe handling of high-explosives.
the demolition used a carefully calculated amount of high-explosive material.