Tinderbox definition

tĭndər-bŏks
A metal box for holding tinder.
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A potentially explosive place or situation.

Referred to the crowded prison as a tinderbox of suppressed violence.

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(historical) A metal box for holding tinder, flint, and steel for starting a fire.
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Any highly flammable object, structure, etc.
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A place or situation likely to be the source of a flare-up of trouble, war, etc.
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A small container containing flint, steel, and tinder (dry, finely-divided fibrous matter), once used to help kindle a fire.
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(by extension) A place that is so dry and hot that there is danger of fire.
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(by extension) A potentially dangerous situation.
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
tinderbox
Plural:
tinderboxes