gunpowder
noun
gun·pow·der
ˈgən-ˌpau̇-dər 
: an explosive mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur used in gunnery and blasting
broadly
: any of various powders used in guns as propelling charges
Examples of gunpowder in a Sentence
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When cannons and gunpowder debuted in Europe in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, cities struggled to survive the onslaught of the new firepower.
—
Jacquelyn Schneider, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
The grandeur of the buildings reflects the historic wealth of these villages, where two rare goods vital to the upper class – silk and nitre (for use in gunpowder) – were produced for centuries.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 6 Oct. 2024
In the late 16th century, a brisk trade existed between the two groups with the French trading beads, metal utensils and gunpowder for hides and meat that would be delivered down-river to New Orleans.
—Curtis Varnell, arkansasonline.com, 22 Sep. 2024
He was found with a bullet in his jacket pocket similar in caliber to the one Lois was shot with and had gunpowder on his hands, prosecutors said.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2024
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Jacquelyn Schneider, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
The grandeur of the buildings reflects the historic wealth of these villages, where two rare goods vital to the upper class – silk and nitre (for use in gunpowder) – were produced for centuries.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 6 Oct. 2024
In the late 16th century, a brisk trade existed between the two groups with the French trading beads, metal utensils and gunpowder for hides and meat that would be delivered down-river to New Orleans.
—Curtis Varnell, arkansasonline.com, 22 Sep. 2024
He was found with a bullet in his jacket pocket similar in caliber to the one Lois was shot with and had gunpowder on his hands, prosecutors said.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gunpowder
Dictionary Entries Near gunpowder
Cite this Entry
“Gunpowder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunpowder. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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gunpowder
noun
gun·pow·der
-ˌpau̇d-ər
: an explosive mixture used in guns and blasting
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