tinderbox Hear it!

tinderbox definition

tinder·box (-bäks′)

noun

  1. Obsolete a metal box for holding tinder, flint, and steel for starting a fire
  2. any highly flammable object, structure, etc.
  3. a place or situation likely to be the source of a flare-up of trouble, war, etc.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.