v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Detonated p. pr. & vb. n. Detonating ] [ L. detonare, v. i., to thunder down; de + tonare to thunder; akin to E. thunder. See Thunder, and cf. Detonize. ] To explode with a sudden report; as, niter detonates with sulphur. [ 1913 Webster ]