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Noun: tinderbox  'tin-du(r),bóks
  1. A box for holding tinder
    "The camper kept dry moss and small twigs in his tinderbox for starting fires"
     
  2. A dangerous state of affairs; a situation that is a potential source of violence
    "the Balkans are the tinderbox of Europe"

Derived forms: tinderboxes

Type of: box, situation

Encyclopedia: Tinderbox, Tasmania