fuse wire; intermediary; sewing needle (dialect)
Meanings
3 senses · 7 examplesnoun
fuse wire; lead wire (on a fuse or detonator)
Technical term used in military engineering, mining, and demolition. Refers specifically to the conductive wire that transmits the ignition current or flame to the explosive charge.
The combat engineer carefully cut the bomb's fuse wire.
The blasting cap's lead wire failed to detonate properly after getting damp.
noun
intermediary; go-between; catalyst; medium
Metaphorical usage referring to a person, event, or thing that facilitates a connection between two parties or triggers a chain of events. Can carry either neutral or slightly negative connotations depending on context.
He voluntarily acted as a go-between for both parties, facilitating this cooperation.
This border conflict became the catalyst for all-out war.
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We need a reliable intermediary to bridge the gap.
noun
sewing needle
dialectRegional dialect usage found in certain southern Chinese dialects (e.g., Hakka, Cantonese, and some Wu dialects). Not used in standard Mandarin.
Grandma can't find her sewing needle, so she can't sew on the button.
Use this needle to mend the clothes.