ENGLISH
REFERENCE

grenade

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ɡɹəˈneɪd// UK //ɡɹənˈeɪd// grenade Archaic Slang

n. a small bomb that you throw by hand or fire from a special gun. It is used in fighting and war to cause damage in a small area.

n. a small explosive device designed to be thrown by hand or launched from a weapon. Typically consists of an explosive charge, a detonating mechanism, and a casing that fragments upon detonation.


SIMPLE

The soldier pulled the pin and threw the grenade.

CONTEXTUAL

During the training exercise, the recruits practiced throwing a dummy grenade into a designated target pit.

COMPLEX

The historical museum features a collection of early hand-thrown explosives, including a primitive iron grenade used during the seventeenth century.

Origin

Borrowed from French grenade, from Old French grenate in the phrase pomme grenate (“pomegranate”), ultimately from Medieval Latin pomum (“apple”) + granatum (“having grains”). The -d developed in French under influence of Spanish granada. Doublet of garnet.

Usage

Commonly used with verbs like 'throw', 'toss', or 'launch'.

Idioms1 entry

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