dynamite: Any of a class of high explosivesbased on nitroglycerin. Theoriginal form, invented in 1867 byAlfred Nobel, consisted of nitroglycerinabsorbed in kieselguhr. Moderndynamites, which are used for blasting,contain sodium or ammoniumnitrate sensitized with nitroglycerinand use other absorbers (e.g. woodpulp).
Definition
A high explosive made by absorbing
nitroglycerine into an earthy material
such as diatomite (kieselguhr). Solid
sticks of dynamite are much safer to handle
than the highly sensitive liquid nitroglycerine.
