† 1. One who rejects (a doctrine, etc.); one who denies the existence of (something). Obs.
1659. H. More, Immort. Soul (1662), 39. Mr. Hobbs, that confident Exploder of Immaterial Substances out of the world.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., Pref. 17. [Some affirm that atheists do not exist, but] these so confident Exploders of them, are both Vnskilled in the Monuments of Antiquity, and Vnacquainted with the Present Age.
1681. Hallywell, Melampr., Intro. 3. This Age hath produced too many over-confident Exploders of Immaterial Substances.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1737), VI. vii. 276. Scandalous exploders of the doctrine of passive obedience.
2. One who refutes a theory, etc.
1863. J. Brown, Horæ Subs. (1882), 320. Mighty expiscators and exploders of myths.
3. Something that bursts with a loud noise.
1858. Greener, Gunnery, 238. Things … called guns. Pocket volcanoes would be a fitter title, or portable exploders.
4. That which causes explosion; a contrivance for exploding gunpowder, etc.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., I. 853/2. The gun … has … the needle-exploder and bolt breech.
1880. Libr. Univ. Knowl., VI. 359. For mining, electric fuses are used, called also exploders.
1884. A. E. Hake, Chinese Gordon, x. 254. Firing a gun 150 yards off with a magnetic exploder.
