exponential (tial as shal)

[English er ponent; -ial; Fr. exponentiel.] Alg.: Pertaining to an exponent or exponents; involving variable exponents; as, an exponential 1. One who explores, searches, or investigates. 2. ( Spec. ): An apparatus by which the bottom of expre ion. a body of water is examined, when not beyond a certain depth. In one form it is called a submarine telescope; in other forms it is a diving-bell, submarine boat, . ěx-plör-ing, pr. par., a. & 8. [EXPLORE.] A. As pr. par.: (See the verb.) B. Asadj .: Designed for or employed in exploration; as, an exploring party. C. As subst.: The same as EXPLORATION (q. v.). ěx-plō-şion, s. [Lat. explosio , from explosus , pa. par. of explodo =to explode; Fr. & Sp.explosion ; Ital. exp los i one .] 1. Lit .: A bursting or exploding with a loud report; a bursting or sudden expansion of any elastic fluid with force and a loud report; a sudden or loud discharge. "In explosion vast The thunder raises his tremendous voice." Thomson: Summer , 1,130. 2. Fig .: A violent outburst of rage or pa ion. "But now the explosion was terrible." -Macaulay: Hist. Eng ., ch. xiii. For the difference between explosion and erup tion , see ERUPTION. ěx-plō-sive, a . & s. [Fr. explosif .] A. As adjective : 1. Ord. Lang.: Bursting or driving with great force and noise; causing explosion: as, the explosive force of gunpowder, . "These minerals constitute in the earth a kind of natural gunpowder, which takes fire; and by the a istance of its explosive power, renders the shock greater." Woodward . 2. Philol.: Not continuous; forming a complete vocal stop; as, an explosive consonant. B. As substantive: 1. Ord . Lang .: Anything liable to or causing ex plosions; an explosive agent. Such are gunpowder, dynamite, gun-cotton, nitro-glycerine, . (q. v.) 2. Philol .: A mute or non-continuous consonant, as k , t , b .