a device consisting of a container of fuel and two explosive charges; the first charge bursts open the fuel container at a predetermined height and spreads the fuel in a cloud that mixes with atmospheric oxygen; the second charge detonates the cloud which creates an enormous blast wave and incinerates whatever is below • Syn: fuel-air explosive • Hypernyms: explosive device • Hyponyms: thermobaric bomb, fuel-air bomb, vacuum bomb, volume-detonation bomb, aerosol bomb