A heavy yellow poisonous oily explosive liquid obtained by nitrating glycerol; used in making explosives and medically as a vasodilator; SYN. nitroglycerine, trinitroglycerin, glyceryl trinitrate.

C3H5(ONO2)3 flammable, explosive oil produced by the action of nitric and sulfuric acids on glycerol. Although poisonous, it is used in cardiac medicine. It explodes with great violence if heated in a confined space and is used in the preparation of dynamite, cordite, and other high explosives.