# flamethrower

/flˈeɪmθɹəʊɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/flamethrower
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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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.