1. explodes or causes to explode with sudden violence

Examples

• The bomb detonates at exactly noon.
• Lightning detonates the dynamite in the quarry.
• The firework detonates high in the sky.
• The demolition crew detonates the charges to bring down the building.
• If you heat it too much, the compound detonates violently.
• The mine detonates when someone steps on it.