Definition of "explosive"

With the capability to, or likely to, explode.  examples

Having the character of an explosion.

1. (cellular automata) Of a specific cellular automaton rule, tending to exhibit infinite and unpredictable growth when starting from finite random patterns.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Notes: A rule set that (very probably) results in explosive growth; certainly in area if not population.

     1992 June 2, Dave Boll, “Variations on Conway's LIFE”, in comp.theory.cell-automata‎ (Usenet)

   • For example, putting a 1 at (0: 1,1) will cause explosive growth in all directions, putting a 1 at (0: 0,2A) will cause pairs of diagonal cells in a 2x2 square to alternate on and off, putting a 1 at (1: 4,4) will cause all solid 1 areas to stay 1 for another cycle, etc.

     1994 April 4, Robert Andreen, “CA rules”, in comp.theory.cell-automata‎ (Usenet)

   • If the rule is further chosen so that active cells can (and must) expand on an inactive background but inactive cells can't do so on an active background (or vice versa), then non-explosive growth becomes possible.

     2003 May 12, Ilmari Karonen, “Gliders in 4-neighbor semitotalistic 2D cellular automata”, in comp.theory.cell-automata‎ (Usenet)

(figurative) Shocking; startling.  examples

(slang) Easily driven to anger, usually with reference to a person.

(phonetics, archaic) Synonym of plosive

Any explosive substance.  examples

(linguistics, dated) A plosive.  quotations  examples