Definition

A chemical compound used as an explosive, known for its stability and effectiveness in military applications.

Example

The army used trinitrotoluene for demolition purposes during the training exercise.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of trinitrotoluene?

Yeah, it's commonly known as TNT, right?

Exactly! I read that it's used in many explosive applications.

That's fascinating — I didn't know it had such a cool history.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Trinitrotoluene is formed from "tri-" (meaning three), "nitro" (from Latin "nitrum", meaning saltpeter or nitrate), and "toluene" (from the Spanish "tolueno", referring to a type of aromatic hydrocarbon derived from the resin of the Tolu tree). The word describes a compound that contains three nitro groups attached to a toluene molecule.

Memory Tip

Think of 'three' ('tri-') nitro groups being added to a 'toluene' base — that's how trinitrotoluene is formed.

Visually Confused Words