Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

Explosive

Definitions: Explosive

Explosive

Adjective

1. Tending or serving to explode or characterized by explosion or sudden outburst; "an explosive device"; "explosive gas"; "explosive force"; "explosive violence"; "an explosive temper".

2. Liable to lead to sudden change or violence; "an explosive issue"; "a volatile situation with troops and rioters eager for a confrontation".

3. Sudden and loud; "an explosive laugh".

Noun

1. A chemical substance that undergoes a rapid chemical change (with the production of gas) on being heated or struck.

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "explosive" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1808. (references)


Specialty Definitions: Explosive

DomainDefinitions

Chemistry

Explosive. Source: European Union. (references)

Chemical Industry

Any substance or device that can be made to produce a volume of rapidly expanding gas in an extremely brief period. Source: European Union. (references)

Military

A substance or mixture of substances which, under external influences, is capable of rapidly releasing energy in the form of gases and heat. (references)

Mining

A. Any chemical compound, mixture, or device that is capable of undergoing a rapid chemical reaction, producing an explosion; a cap sensitive mixture. b. Any mixture or chemical compound by whose decomposition or combustion gas is generated with such rapidity that it can be used for blasting or in firearms; e.g., gunpowder, dynamite, etc. See also:explosive factor; Morcol; permitted explosive; sheathed explosive. c. In coal mining, there are two main classes permissible and nonpermissible; i.e., those safe for use in coal mines and those that arenot. See also:coal mining explosives e.g., gunpowder, dynamite, etc. See also:explosive factor; Morcol; permitted explosive; sheathed explosive. c. In coal mining, there are two main classes permissible and nonpermissible; i.e., those safe for use in coal mines and those that arenot. See also:coal mining explosives i.e., those safe for use in coal mines and those that arenot. See also:coal mining explosives. (references)

Public Administration

An explosive agent or compound. Source: European Union. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Synonym: Explosive

Synonym: volatile (adj). (additional references)
Antonym: nonexplosive (adj). (additional references)

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Synonyms within Context: Explosive

ContextSynonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).

Arms

High explosive; trinitrotoluene, TNT; dynamite, melinite, cordite, lyddite, plastic explosive, plastique; pyroxyline.

Explosive; gunpowder, guncotton; mercury fulminate; picrates; pentaerythritol tetranitrate, PETNoun:

Danger

Tottering; unstable, unsteady; shaky, top-heavy, tumbledown, ramshackle, crumbling, waterlogged; helpless, guideless; in a bad way; reduced to the last extremity, at the last extremity; trembling in the balance; nodding to its fall; (destruction). threatening; ominous, illomened; alarming; (fear); explosive.

Violence

Spasmodic, convulsive, explosive; detonating; Verb: volcanic, meteoric; stormy; (wind).

Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

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Crosswords: Explosive

English words defined with "explosive": explosive chargehigh explosiveplastic explosive. (references)
Specialty definitions using "explosive": binary explosiveCarribel explosive, chlorate explosiveeq.s. explosive, explosive bolt, explosive cooling agent, EXPLOSIVE OPERATOR I, explosive ordnance disposal, explosive ordnance reconnaissance, explosive ratio, explosive rivet, explosive sensitiveness, explosive strength, explosive strippinglow explosive, low-density explosive, low-freezing explosivemixed explosive, molasses/AN explosivenitroglycerin explosive, nitrostarch explosive, nonfreezing explosive, nonpermissible explosivepermissible explosive, plastic and semiplastic explosive, polar explosive, powder explosive, prophylene-glycol dinitrate explosivesafety explosive, sheathed explosive, sheathed explosive unit, short-flame explosivetrinitrotoluene-ammonium nitrate explosiveunexploded explosive ordnance. (references)

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Modern Usage: Explosive

DomainUsage

Screenplays

Reese surrounded by 6000 pounds of steel and 20 gallons of explosive fuel. (Malcolm in the Middle; writing credit: Daniel Frenette)

I don't know what it is, but the taste is very, how do I put it, explosive! (Bringing Down the House; writing credit: Jason Filardi)

It's very explosive stuff. (Cadillac Man; writing credit: Ken Friedman)

How dare you trick me by giving me the explosive cufflink! (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cufflink Caper; writing credit: Kevin Eastman; Peter Laird)

Peter, do you know how to set your proton pack on explosive overload? (The Real Ghost Busters; writing credit: Lawrence G. DiTillio; Pat Allee)

Movie/TV Titles

The Explosive Generation (1961)

High Explosive (1943)

I'm an Explosive (1933)

Captain Jinks' Explosive Temper (1917)

Une femme explosive (1996)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Commercial Usage: Explosive

DomainTitle

Books

  

Theater & Movies

  • Explosive Dance (reference)

  • High Explosive (reference)

  • Explosive Power (reference)

  • Health Talks at The Cleveland Clinic Presents: The Explosive and Noncompliant Child: A Special Workshop for Parents, Featuring Dr. Ross Greene (reference)

  • Strength and Explosive Power Training (reference)

    (more DVD examples; more video examples)

  

Music

  

High Tech

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Image Slideshow: Explosive

Illustrations:
Explosive

More images...

Computer Images:
Explosive

More images...

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Photo Album: Explosive

ThumbnailDescription & CreditThumbnailDescription & Credit

Explosive Evidence.Credit: NASA.

Figure 61. Electrosounder, used by the Italian Navy in 1954, employed a small explosive device which exploded on impact with the bottom and the sound subsequently was heard at a hydrophone on a ship. The use of explosives for depth finding was first suggested by a French engineer, Urbain Dortet de Tessan about 1850.Credit: Sailing for Science - the NOAA Fleet Then and Now.

Securing cover for TIROS V satellite prior to launching. Lettering on nose cone reads: CAUTION EXPLOSIVE DEVICES ARE SET IN THIS VEHICLE CONSULT DIRECTIONS BEFORE HANDLING. The bulbous nose fairing protected the satellite during its ride through the atmosphere into space.Credit: NOAA in Space.

Explosive ordinance disposal team member.

Sketch inboard profile plans, 1945. Copied from "Extracts from Small Battle Units of Foreign Powers, Appendix III: Japanese Midget Submarines and Explosive Motor Boats", page 40 (bottom).Credit: NAVY.

Mineman Second Class Franklin Marshall, a Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team member, conducts a search for mines, especially those attached to ship's hulls, circa April 1966. The E.O.D. Team is responsible for harbor security. Several merchant ships are in the distance. Photographed by Ernie Filtz.Credit: NAVY.

Heavily retouched photograph, circa 1864, mounted on a mat containing four sketches and the following inscriptions: (at bottom) "U.S. Iron-clad Torpedo Boat 'Spuyten Duyvil' Designed by Chf. Engr. Wm. W.W. Wood U.S.N. Genl. Inspector &c. for the Navy"; and (at top) "Constructed for the Navy Department 1864.". The sketches include (at top) two kinds of explosive shells for the ship's spar torpedoes; and (at bottom) the explosions of torpedo warheads during tests in May 1864.Credit: NAVY.

  

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Sounds Captioned with "Explosive".

PlayCaptionPlayCaption
Bomb; explode; explosion; atom bomb; bombshell; charge; device; explosive; grenade; hydrogen bomb; mine; missile; nuclear bomb; projectile; rocket; shell; ticker; torpedo; submarine.Dynamite; explosive; explosion; blast; pyrotechnic; destruction; demolition; demolishing; demolish; destroy; blow up; blowing up.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Non-Fiction Usage: Explosive

SubjectTopicQuote

Health

On the other hand, there are some particularly abrupt or explosive sounds that can cause damage even with a single exposure. (references)

In the United States, incidence is extremely low. Gastrointestinal anthrax is rare but may occur as explosive outbreaks associated with ingestion of infected animals. (references)

Outbreaks may be explosive or progressive, depending on the density and susceptibility of the vector, the strain of dengue virus, the immune level in the human population, and the amount of vector-human contact. (references)

Business

The IT industry itself will continue to show explosive growth. (references)

Online support is said to see an explosive growth over the next few years. (references)

China suffered massive social strife, economic stagnation, explosive population growth, and Western penetration and influence. (references)

Civil Liberties

Venezuela

Individual journalists have reported receiving intimidating or threatening phone calls, and there were instances of bomb threats and small explosive devices planted near newspaper offices. (references)

Russia

On August 28, witnesses testified that the explosive materials in Kholodov's briefcase did not come from military stock and weighed less than 50 grams, undermining the case against Popovskikh. (references)

Russia

In June Presnya district authorities in Moscow denied organizers a permit to hold a demonstration in front of the International Trade Center, claiming that the location was too close to potentially explosive and flammable installations; officials denied the permit without giving the organizers the required 3 days' notice. (references)

Economic History

Italy

After a slow start, since 1999 Internet usage in Italy has experienced explosive growth. (references)

Mexico

Local providers are expected to allocate large investments to meet this explosive growth in demand. (references)

Argentina

The explosive growth of e-business will likely continue to drive change in the consulting industry. (references)

Human Rights

Bolivia

On May 10, a booby-trapped explosive device injured two policemen. (references)

India

They detonated an improvised explosive device as the minister's car neared Rongali Doegarh, Sivasagar district; no persons were injured in the attack. (references)

Lebanon

Agence France-Press reports that 13 Lebanese civilians were killed and more than 70 were injured as a result of landmines and other explosive devices since May 2000. (references)

Minorities

Bosnia and Herzegovina

For example, on January 2 an explosive device was thrown at the house of Bosniak returnees in Modrica, causing material damage but no casualties. (references)

Slovak Republic

Also in March in Poprad, an unknown offender threw an explosive device near the site of a rally of approximately 100 persons held to commemorate the first deportation of Jewish women and girls from the country to Nazi concentration camps. (references)

Political Economy

Pakistan

In 1990, U.S. economic and military assistance to Pakistan was suspended as required by U.S. legislation (the so-called Pressler Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act) when the U.S. President could no longer certify to Congress that Pakistan did not possess a nuclear explosive device. (references)

Trade

Bulgaria

Transit of goods such as arms or radioactive, explosive, inflammable, oxidizing, toxic, infectious or corrosive substances, require a transit permit. (references)

Moldova

A license for import of weapons, explosive substances, nuclear materials, technologies, equipment and installations is issued by a special committee of the Moldovan Government. (references)

Poland

Therefore, their import is controlled by specific government agencies that are authorized to grant licenses or permits for some goods, i.e., sanitary licenses for agricultural goods, permits for medical goods and licenses for weapons and explosive materials. (references)

Travel

Ecuador

Geological experts advise that an explosive eruption could occur quickly and with little warning. (references)

Uk

In recent years, a major suburban London bridge was damaged by a bomb, various explosions occurred in high-density London neighborhoods, and an explosive device discovered on a London subway line caused major public transport delays. (references)

Worker Rights

India

In addition there is a reasonable basis to believe that products were produced using forced or indentured child labor in the following industries: Brassware; hand-knotted wool carpets; explosive fireworks; footwear; hand-blown glass bangles; hand-made locks; hand-dipped matches; hand-broken quarried stones; hand-spun silk thread and hand-loomed silk cloth; hand-made bricks; and beedis (hand-rolled cigarettes). (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

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Usage Frequency: Explosive

"Explosive" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 96.37% of the time. "Explosive" is used about 688 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)
Parts of SpeechPercentUsage per
100 Million Words
Rank in English
Adjective (general or positive)96.37%6639,901
Noun (singular)3.63%2569,787
                    Total100.00%688N/A

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Expressions: Explosive

Expressions using "explosive": "Eq S" explosive ammunition with explosive projectiles equivalent sheathed explosive explosive atmospheres explosive charge explosive decompression explosive device explosive filled mine explosive force explosive material explosive ordnance explosive ordnance disposal explosive ordnance disposal incident explosive ordnance disposal procedures explosive ordnance disposal reconnaissance explosive ordnance reconnaissance explosive person explosive rivet explosive store explosive stuff explosive temper explosive train explosive unit Favier explosive high explosive improvised explosive device improvised explosive devices initiating explosive liquid explosive low explosive plasmic explosive plastic explosive potentially explosive atmosphere primary explosive sheathed explosive sheet explosive unexploded explosive ordnance. Additional references.

Hyphenated Usage

Beginning with "explosive": explosive-related, explosive-tipped.

Ending with "explosive": high-explosive.

Containing "explosive": electro-explosive device, high-explosive bomb.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Frequency of Internet Keywords: Explosive

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.
 
ExpressionFrequency
per Day
  ExpressionFrequency
per Day

  explosive

518

  explosive tnt

13

  homemade explosive

178

  explosive magazine

13

  explosive make

86

  explosive diarrhea

12

  intermittent explosive disorder

71

  explosive picture

12

  home made explosive

62

  chemistry explosive

12

  c4 explosive

50

  explosive detection dog

12

  plastic explosive

48

  explosive firework

12

  explosive ordnance disposal

46

  device explosive

12

  explosive homemade make

37

  explosion explosive fraction release respirable

11

  explosive making

31

  explosive rdx

11

  explosive child

29

  explosive limit lower

10

  explosive detection

24

  safe explosive act

10

  device explosive improvised

20

  explosive industrial

10

  explosive improvised

20

  explosive training

10

  explosive storage

19

  explosive orgasms

9

  explosive make plastic

16

  detector explosive

9

  high explosive

16

  explosive demolition

9

  4 c explosive

15

  explosive ship

9

  dynamite explosive

15

  engineering explosive

9

  disorder explosive

14

  military explosive

9
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Modern Translations: Explosive

Language Translations for "explosive"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.

Albanian

  

eksploziv, shpërthyes (detonating, eruptive, explosion, hair-trigger, plosive, volatile, volcanic), plasës (exploder), lëndë plasëse (detonator, fulminate), i vrullshëm (blusterous, blustery, convulsive, darting, dashing, drastic, impetuous, rash, rattling, spasmodic, sudden, sweeping, tearaway, tearing, thrifty, vehement, vigorous). (various references)

   

Arabic 

  

‏مفرقعة (squib, torpedo), ‏متفجر (fulminatory, volcanic), ‏مادة متفجرة, ‏سريع الانفعال (excitable), ‏صوت إنفجاري, ‏إنفجارى. (various references)

   

Bulgarian 

  

раздразнителен (bad tempered, chippy, choleric, edgy, excitable, fretful, gingery, ill, ill tempered, ill-conditioned, irascible, irritable, liverish, livery, nervous, nervy, peevish, pettish, petulant, prickly, querulous, raspy, ratty, snappish, stroppy, techy, tetchy, touchy, vinegary), взривен (blasted, blasting), експлозивен (plosive), експлозив (demolition bomb), избухлив (fiery, hot, inflammable, irritable, passionate, peevish, plosive, quick tempered, short tempered, violent, volatile). (various references)

   

Chinese 

  

炸藥 , "爆. (various references)

   

Czech

  

explozivní, výbušnina, výbušný (detonating, effervescent, hot tempered, quick tempered), trhavina, trhavý (jerked, jumpy), třaskavina, napjatý (inflammable, taut, tense, tight, tonic, uptight). (various references)

   

Danish

  

eksplosivt stof, eksplosivstof (blasting agent), eksplosive, eksplosiv (detonable, explosible), E (electromotive force, essential, potential difference, tension), sprängstof, sprængstof (blasting agent), occlusiv (occlusive, plosive), lukkelyd (occlusive, plosive), klusil (occlusive, plosive). (various references)

   

Dutch

  

explosieven (occlusive, plosive), explosieve stof, explosief (blasting agent, detonable, explosible), E (essential, Extra), springstof (blasting agent), plofklanken (occlusive, plosive), ontplofbaar (detonable, explosible), occlusieven (occlusive, plosive). (various references)

   

Esperanto

  

eksplodilo (explosive device). (various references)

   

Farsi 

  

منفجرشونده . (various references)

   

Finnish

  

räjähdysmäinen, räjähdysaine. (various references)

   

French

  

explosif (explosible). (various references)

   

German

  

Sprengstoff (blasting agent), brisant (breaker, controversial, explosive issue, scum breaker, skerry, volatile). (various references)

   

Greek 

  

εκρηκτική ύλη (blast agent, blasting agent, explosive material). (various references)

   

Hebrew 

  

חומר פץ, "'" פוצץ, פיץ. (various references)

   

Hungarian

  

robbanószer, robbanóanyag (blasting agent, exploder), robbanó (blasting, burst, detonating), robbanékony (choleric, detonable, excitable, fiery, irritable, potentially explosive, vehement, volcanic). (various references)

   

Indonesian

  

eksplosif, bahan peledak (detonator). (various references)

   

Italian

  

esplosivo (blasting agent, volatile). (various references)

   

Japanese Kanji 

  

爆薬 (blasting powder), 爆発的 (tremendous), 爆発物 . (various references)

   

Japanese Katakana 

  

ばくやく (blasting powder), ばくはつぶつ, ばくはつてき (tremendous). (various references)

   

Korean 

  

폭발성. (various references)

   

Manx

  

poodyr (blasting powder, dynamite, gelatine, gelignite, gunpowder, powder), bleaystagh (detonating; husked, shelled). (various references)

   

Norwegian

  

eksplosiv, sprengstoff. (various references)

   

Pig Latin

  

explosiveay

   

Portuguese

  

explosivo (blasting agent, detonable, explosible, explosive device, explosive person, plosive, plot, propellant), explosiva (detonable, explosible), E (and, essential), aumento (accession, accretion, accrual, addition, advance, advancement, aggrandizement, augment, augmentation, elope, enlargement, expansion, extra, gain, growth, increase, increment, magnification, marl, raise, rise, spread, swell, swelling). (various references)

   

Romanian

  

exploziv (detonating, parlous), explozibil, materie explozivã, detunãtor (detonating, pealing), detonant (detonating, detonator). (various references)

   

Russian 

  

разрывной, вспыльчивый (choleric, fiery, hair-trigger, hasty, hot tempered, hot-blooded, hot-headed, hot-spirited, hot-tempered, inflammable, irascible, ornery, peppery, quick tempered, quicktempered, short tempered, short-tempered, spitfire, testy, wildcat), взрывчатый, взрывчатое вещество, взрывной (explosion, plosive). (various references)

   

Serbo-Croatian

  

eksplozivi, eksplozivan (detonating), eksploziv. (various references)

   

Spanish

  

explosivo (blasting agent, detonable, explosible, plosive). (various references)

   

Swedish

  

explosiv (blasting, fulminant). (various references)

   

Turkish

  

tartışmalı (contentious, controversial, eristic, moot, polemic, vexed), patlayıcı madde, patlayıcı (detonating, fulminating, plosive, squib), patlamaya hazır, patlamaya ait, çileden çıkaran (exasperating, infuriating). (various references)

   

Ukranian 

  

розривний (dissoluble, dissolvable), вибухова речовина, вибуховий (blasting, detonating), запальний (choleric, fiery, gingery, hard-nosed, hasty, heated, hot, hot tempered, hot-blooded, hot-brained, hotheaded, inflammable, inflammatory, ireful, ornery, passionate, peppery, quick tempered, short tempered, spunky, testy). (various references)

   

Vietnamese 

  

nổ; gây nổ, dễ nổ. (various references)

   

Welsh

  

ffrwydrol. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

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Derivations & Misspellings: Explosive

Derivations

Words beginning with "explosive": explosively, explosiveness, explosivenesses, explosives. (additional references)

Words ending with "explosive": nonexplosive. (additional references)

Words containing "explosive": nonexplosives. (additional references)


Misspellings

"Explosive" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: exlusive, exsplosive. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

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Rhyming with "Explosive"

# of Phoneme MatchesPronunciationWord(s) rhyming with "explosive" (pronounced iksplō"siv)
4-ō" s i vcorrosive, erosive.
3-s i vabrasive, abusive, adhesive, aggressive, allusive, apprehensive, aversive, coercive, cohesive, collusive, comprehensive, compulsive, conclusive, conducive, convulsive, counteroffensive, decisive, defensive, depressive, derisive, discursive, dismissive, dispersive, divisive, effusive, elusive, evasive, excessive, exclusive, expansive, expensive, expressive, extensive, hypertensive, illusive, impassive, impressive, impulsive, incisive, inclusive, inconclusive, indecisive, inexpensive, inoffensive, intrusive, invasive, massive, missive, nonexclusive, nonresponsive, obsessive, obtrusive, offensive, oppressive, passive, pensive, permissive, persuasive, pervasive, possessive, progressive, recessive, reclusive, reflexive, regressive, repressive, repulsive, responsive, submissive, subversive, successive, unimpressive, unobtrusive, unresponsive.

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

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Anagrams: Explosive

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

Words within the letters "e-e-i-l-o-p-s-v-x"

-2 letters: epoxies, plosive.

-3 letters: elopes, exiles, expels, expose, ilexes, levies, olives, oxlips, pelves, pelvis, pilose, pixels, poleis, polies, silvex, vexils, voiles.

-4 letters: elope, elves, evils, exile, expel, expos, lexes, lexis, lieve, lives, lopes, loves, loxes, olive, oxlip, peels, peise, peles, piles, pixel, pixes, plies, poise, poles, polis, poxes, sieve, silex, sleep, slipe, slope, solei.

 Words containing the letters "e-e-i-l-o-p-s-v-x"
 

+1 letter: explosives.

 

+2 letters: explosively.

 

+3 letters: nonexplosive, overexplains, overexploits.

 

+4 letters: explosiveness, nonexplosives.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.

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Alternative Orthography: Explosive


Hexadecimal (or equivalents, 770AD-1900s) (references)

45 78 70 6C 6F 73 69 76 65

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519; backwards) (references)

American Sign Language (origins from 1620-1817 in Italy and, especially, France) (references)

=

Semaphore (1791, in France) (references)

Braille (1829, in France) (references)

Morse Code (1836) (references)

.    -..-    .--.    .-..    ---    ...    ..    ...-    .

Dancing Men (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1903) (references)

Binary Code (1918-1938, probably earlier) (references)

01000101 01111000 01110000 01101100 01101111 01110011 01101001 01110110 01100101

HTML Code (1990) (references)

&#69 &#120 &#112 &#108 &#111 &#115 &#105 &#118 &#101

ISO 10646 (1991-1993) (references)

0045 0078 0070 006C 006F 0073 0069 0076 0065

British Sign Language (Fingerspelling, BSL; 1992, British Deaf Association Dictionary of British Sign Language) (references)

Encryption (beginner's substitution cypher): (references)

399082788185758871

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INDEX

1. Definition
2. Synonyms
3. Crosswords
4. Usage: Modern
5. Usage: Commercial
6. Images: Slideshow
7. Images: Photo Album
8. Sounds
9. Quotations: Non-fiction
10. Usage Frequency
11. Expressions
12. Expressions: Internet
13. Translations: Modern
14. Derivations
15. Rhymes
16. Anagrams
17. Orthography
18. Bibliography


  

Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.