noun
semtex
SEHM-tehks
noun
1
A plastic explosive that can be molded by hand and is stable enough to be shaped without detonating.
"Investigators found traces of Semtex in the wreckage."
"The bomb squad carefully removed the block of Semtex from the package."
How to Use Semtex
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA moldable, putty-like explosive material, associated in the news with bombings and terrorism.
When to use it
Almost always used in news, military, or crime contexts rather than everyday speech.
Word Forms
semtexed past tense, semtexes singular
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Investigators found traces of _____ in the wreckage.
Etymology
Originally a trademark, blending Semtín — the Czech town where it was first made near Pardubice — with the word "explosive."