Gunpowder (Noun)
Meaning
A mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The early Chinese invention of gunpowder revolutionized warfare and led to the development of firearms.
- Gunpowder was used extensively in the American Civil War, with both the Union and Confederate armies relying on it for their artillery.
- The recipe for making gunpowder was a closely guarded secret in medieval Europe, known only to a select few.
- The smell of gunpowder filled the air after the fireworks display ended on New Year's Eve.
- The old cannon was loaded with a charge of gunpowder and a cannonball, ready to be fired at the enemy's fortifications.