different between explosive vs tripwire

English

Etymology

From Latin explos-, stem of the perfect passive participle of explod? + the suffix -ive.

Pronunciation

Adjective

explosive (comparative more explosive, superlative most explosive)

1. With the capability to, or likely to, explode.

   an explosive device

2. Having the character of an explosion.

   an explosive fire

3. (figuratively) Shocking; startling.

   an explosive accusation

4. (slang) Easily driven to anger, usually with reference to a person.

   He has an explosive personality.

Related terms

• explode

Translations

Noun

explosive (plural explosives)

1. Any explosive substance.

Translations

French

Adjective

explosive

1. feminine singular of explosif

German

Adjective

explosive

1. inflection of explosiv:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

English

Etymology

trip +? wire

Noun

tripwire (plural tripwires)

1. A cord or wire arranged so that when snagged or pulled by an intruder, it will trigger a detector or trap or a device, such as a land mine.
2. Any means of detecting intruders or attackers.
   • 1994, Diplomat (volume 5, page 67)

     The continued presence of U.S. troops as a tripwire force in Macedonia is an increasingly risky venture.

Alternative forms

• trip wire

Synonyms

• tripline
• trip cord

Related terms

• land mine
• explosive

Translations

Verb

tripwire (third-person singular simple present tripwires, present participle tripwiring, simple past and past participle tripwired)

1. (transitive) To set a tripwire mechanism in (a location).