Gunpowder is an explosive substance which is used to make fireworks or cause explosions.
gunpowder in British English
(ˈɡʌnˌpaʊdə)
noun
an explosive mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulphur (typical proportions are 75:15:10): used in time fuses, blasting, and fireworks
Also called: black powder
Derived forms
gunpowdery (ˈgunˌpowdery)
adjective
gunpowder in American English
(ˈgʌnˌpaʊdər)
noun
1.
an explosive powder, esp. a blackish mixture of sulfur, potassium nitrate, and charcoal, used as a chargein cartridges, shells, etc., for blasting, in fireworks, etc.
2.
gunpowder tea
Examples of 'gunpowder' in a sentence
gunpowder
But health and safety investigators are probing whether a spark from an axle grinder could have ignited gunpowder residue.
The Sun (2012)
The insurgents dug in, establishing a gunpowder magazine.
Diane Purkiss The English Civil War: A People's History (2006)
A formal garden was installed on the roof of the old gunpowder magazine.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There were no signs of gunpowder residue on the body, suggesting that he was not shot at close range.