an explosion that fails to occur

an event that fails badly or is totally ineffectual; "the first experiment was a real turkey"; "the meeting was a dud as far as new business was concerned"

failing to detonate; especially not charged with an active explosive; "he stepped on a dud mine"

A device that will not function, no matter what the stimulus leve l is. This term is most often used in connection with explosive components. Sometimes also called a reject component.

Common term for unexploded munition or cluster submunition; refers to munitions or submunitions that have been fired but did not explode on impact as intended. These are often hazardous duds that can still explode when disturbed.

A shell that fails to explode. An incapable person; no good.

round of ammunition that does not fire when expected.

A dud is an ammunition round or explosive that fails to fire or detonate, respectively. Poorly designed devices (for example, IEDs), and small devices, have higher chances of being dud.