fulminate
Syllabification: (ful·mi·nate)
Pronunciation: /ˈfo͝olməˌnāt, ˈfəl-/
Definition of fulminate
verb
noun
ChemistryOrigin:
late Middle English: from Latin fulminat- 'struck by lightning', from fulmen, fulmin- 'lightning'. The earliest sense (derived from medieval Latin fulminare) was 'denounce formally,' later 'issue formal censures' (originally said of the pope). A sense 'emit thunder and lightning,' based on the original Latin meaning, arose in the early 17th century, and hence 'explode violently' (late 17th century)