detonator

/ˈdɛtəneɪtər/
noun
  1. A device used to trigger an explosion, such as a blasting cap or a remote control for a bomb.
    • The engineer placed the detonator inside the explosive charge.
    • The police found a detonator connected to the suspicious package.
    • He pressed the button on the detonator, and the building collapsed.
  2. A person or thing that causes something to happen suddenly or violently (figurative).
    • His angry words acted as a detonator for the argument.
    • The scandal was the detonator for a major political crisis.
    • The new policy was a detonator for protests across the country.
What does "detonator" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean