Word
flamethrower
Phoneticsflamethrow·er
UK/flˈeɪmθɹəʊɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a weapon that shoots a long stream of burning fuel. You see it in war films, and workers sometimes use safer versions to clear weeds or ice.
n. a portable weapon that projects a sustained jet of ignited fuel over a distance. Typically comprises pressurised fuel tanks connected to a nozzle with an ignition source, historically employed in warfare and now largely restricted to controlled agricultural burns and cinematic effects.
Examples
“The soldier carries a heavy flamethrower on his back.”
“The army unit used a flamethrower to clear dry brush from the training field safely.”
“The museum display included a decommissioned flamethrower, its scorched nozzle bearing silent witness to the brutal close-range tactics of past island combat.”
Examples
simple
“The soldier carries a heavy flamethrower on his back.”
contextual
“The army unit used a flamethrower to clear dry brush from the training field safely.”
complex
“The museum display included a decommissioned flamethrower, its scorched nozzle bearing silent witness to the brutal close-range tactics of past island combat.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “flamethrower” in context.
Verb
01. aim flamethrower
“The worker aimed the flamethrower at the icy path.”
verb + noun
02. armed with flamethrower
“The soldier in the photo was armed with a flamethrower.”
verb + prep + noun
03. carry flamethrower
“Only trained soldiers can carry a flamethrower into battle.”
verb + noun
04. fire flamethrower
“The actor was trained to fire the flamethrower safely on set.”
verb + noun
05. flamethrower erupts
“Suddenly the flamethrower erupted, sending heat across the field.”
noun + verb
06. flamethrower roars
“The flamethrower roared and lit up the night sky in the film.”
noun + verb
Noun
07. blast from flamethrower
“A sudden blast from the flamethrower cleared the weeds in seconds.”
noun + prep + noun
08. fuel for flamethrower
“They checked the fuel for the flamethrower before starting work.”
noun + prep + noun
09. armed with a flamethrower
“The character in the game is armed with a flamethrower.”
10. blast from a flamethrower
“A loud blast from a flamethrower shocked the film crew.”
11. clear weeds with a flamethrower
“Farmers sometimes clear weeds with a flamethrower.”
12. fire a flamethrower safely
“Crew members learned how to fire a flamethrower safely.”
Etymology
From flame + thrower, calque of German Flammenwerfer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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