# Bangalore

/ˈbæŋɡəˌɫɔɹ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bangalore
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the city

noun · CEFR B1

A major city in southern India, now officially called Bengaluru, known for its technology industry.

For teachers: The state capital of Karnataka, India; a major global hub for information technology and aerospace.

- Many international software companies have their main offices in Bangalore.
- The rapid urbanisation of Bangalore has transformed it from a colonial garden city into a sprawling technological metropolis.

### 3. explosive device

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Slang

A long tube filled with explosives used by soldiers to clear paths through wires or mines.

For teachers: A shortened form of 'Bangalore torpedo', an explosive charge placed within a long, extendable tube to clear obstacles like barbed wire.

- The soldiers used a bangalore to blow a hole in the enemy's fence.
- Combat engineers deployed a bangalore to breach the perimeter wire under the cover of heavy smoke.

Usage: Commonly used in military contexts as an ellipsis of the full name.

## Examples

- The soldiers used a bangalore to clear the barbed wire.
- During the assault, the combat engineers deployed a bangalore to create a safe breach through the enemy's perimeter fence.
- Historical accounts of the Normandy landings frequently highlight the bangalore as a critical tool for infantry units pinned down behind coastal shingle and heavy wire fortifications.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.