Detonate \Det"o*nate\, 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]