| detonation [´det·ǝn`ā·shǝn] CHEMISTRY An exothermic chemical reaction that propagates with such rapidity that the rate of advance of the reaction zone into the unreacted material exceeds the velocity of sound in the unreacted material; that is, the advancing reaction zone is preceded by a shock wave. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING Spontaneous combustion of the compressed charge after passage of the spark in an internal combustion engine; it is accompanied by knock. |