English Reference

Word

molotov

Phoneticsmolo·tov

/ˈmɔɫəˌtɑf/

Definition

n. a simple bomb made from a glass bottle filled with fuel and a piece of cloth. You light the cloth and throw the bottle to start a fire.

n. a crude incendiary device consisting of a glass bottle filled with flammable liquid and a rag wick. Often used as a weapon in civil unrest or guerrilla warfare.

Examples

“The protesters threw a molotov at the empty building.”

“Security forces moved back as several molotovs were thrown from the crowd, causing small fires on the pavement.”

“History books often describe the molotov as the weapon of choice for under-equipped resistance groups due to its low cost and the ease with which it can be manufactured from household items.”

Examples

simple

“The protesters threw a molotov at the empty building.”

contextual

“Security forces moved back as several molotovs were thrown from the crowd, causing small fires on the pavement.”

complex

“History books often describe the molotov as the weapon of choice for under-equipped resistance groups due to its low cost and the ease with which it can be manufactured from household items.”

Usage

Often used in the full phrase 'Molotov cocktail'; when used alone, it remains countable.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference