To cause an explosion or bomb to explode, or to explode suddenly with force.
From Latin 'detonare' (to thunder down), combining 'de-' (down) and 'tonare' (to thunder), originally meaning to produce a sound like thunder.
Detonate beautifully preserves the Latin image of thundering—when something detonates, it's literally 'thundering down' with explosive force, connecting bombs to weather.
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