smokeless powder

noun

an explosive (trade name Ballistite) that burns with relatively little smoke; contains pyrocellulose and is used as a propellant

• Syn: ↑Ballistite

• Hypernyms: ↑explosive

• Substance Meronyms: ↑pyrocellulose

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noun

: any of a class of propellants that produce less smoke on explosion than black powder, that typically consist of gelatinized cellulose nitrates either alone or mixed with nitroglycerin or other ingredients, and that are produced in various forms (as solid and perforated cylindrical grains for military use or as flakes and pellets for sporting use) but not in powder form — compare gunpowder

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any of various substitutes for ordinary gunpowder that give off little or no smoke, esp. one composed wholly or mostly of guncotton.

[1885-90]

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smokeless powder,

a substitute for ordinary gunpowder that gives off little or no smoke when it explodes.