its sides at opposite points, and nearly meeting, for the purpose of exploding gaseous mixtures by an
electric spark, as in gas analysis, etc.
Detonation
(Det`o*na"tion) n. [Cf. F. détonation.] An explosion or sudden report made by the instantaneous
decomposition or combustion of unstable substances; as, the detonation of gun cotton.
Detonator
(Det"o*na`tor) n. One who, or that which, detonates.
Detonization
(Det`o*ni*za"tion) n. The act of detonizing; detonation.
Detonize
(Det"o*nize) v. t. & i. [See Detonate.] [imp. & p. p.Detonized (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Detonizing.]
To explode, or cause to explode; to burn with an explosion; to detonate.
Detorsion
(De*tor"sion) n. Same as Detortion.
Detort
(De*tort") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Detorting.] [L. detortus, p. p. of detorquere
to turn away; de + torquere to turn about, twist: cf. F. détorquer, détordre.] To turn form the original or
plain meaning; to pervert; to wrest. Hammond.
Detortion
(De*tor"tion) n. The act of detorting, or the state of being detorted; a twisting or warping.
Detour
(De`tour") n. [F. détour, fr. détourner to turn aside; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + tourner to turn. See Turn.]
A turning; a circuitous route; a deviation from a direct course; as, the detours of the Mississippi.
Detract
(De*tract") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Detracting.] [L. detractus, p. p. of
detrahere to detract; de + trahere to draw: cf. F. détracter. See Trace.]
1. To take away; to withdraw.
Detract much from the view of the without.
Sir H. Wotton. 2. To take credit or reputation from; to defame.
That calumnious critic . . .
Detracting what laboriously we do.
Drayton. Syn. — To derogate; decry; disparage; depreciate; asperse; vilify; defame; traduce. See Decry.
Detract
(De*tract"), v. i. To take away a part or something, especially from one's credit; to lessen reputation; to
derogate; to defame; — often with from.
It has been the fashion to detract both from the moral and literary character of Cicero.
V. Knox. Detracter
(De*tract"er) n. One who detracts; a detractor.
Other detracters and malicious writers.
Sir T. North. Detractingly
(De*tract"ing*ly), adv. In a detracting manner.
Detraction
(De*trac"tion) n. [F. détraction, L. detractio.]
1. A taking away or withdrawing. [Obs.]
The detraction of the eggs of the said wild fowl.
Bacon. 2. The act of taking away from the reputation or good name of another; a lessening or cheapening in the
estimation of others; the act of depreciating another, from envy or malice; calumny.
