Meaning & use
grenade
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Meanings
nouncountablemilitary
A small bomb, usually held in the hand, that is thrown or fired from a launcher and explodes after a short delay or on impact.
Grammar: Has a plural: one grenade, two grenades.
Patterns
- throw a grenade
- pull the pin of a grenade
The soldier pulled the pin and hurled the grenade over the wall.
Police found an unexploded grenade in the field behind the old factory.
The museum displays a rusty grenade from the First World War.
nouncountablespecialist
A glass container filled with chemicals, designed to break and release its contents, such as a fire-extinguishing liquid or tear gas.
Grammar: Usually appears with a noun that says what it releases: a smoke grenade.
Patterns
- a smoke grenade
- a tear gas grenade
Officers threw a smoke grenade to hide their approach.
An old glass fire grenade hung on the wall of the warehouse.
Word forms
| plural | grenades |
|---|
Common combinations
- throw a grenade
- He was trained to throw a grenade from behind cover.
- hand grenade
- A hand grenade can be thrown about thirty meters by a fit soldier.
- smoke grenade
- The unit popped a smoke grenade to mark the landing zone.
- stun grenade
- A stun grenade produces a loud bang and a bright flash but little lasting harm.
- grenade launcher
- The vehicle was fitted with a grenade launcher on the roof.
- pull the pin
- Never pull the pin on a grenade unless you intend to throw it.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bomb
- A bomb is the general word for any explosive device, while a grenade is specifically small and meant to be thrown or fired by one person.
- explosive
- Explosive can mean any substance that blows up, so it is far broader than grenade, which names one particular weapon.
- shell
- A shell is fired from a large gun and is much bigger than a grenade, which a soldier can carry in a pocket.
Word family
- grenadier noun
- a soldier who throws grenades, or a member of certain historic regiments
- grenades noun
- the plural form
Commonly confused: grenade or grenadine?
grenade vs grenadine
Grenadine is a sweet red syrup used in cocktails and has nothing to do with the weapon, although the two words share a French root linked to the pomegranate.
Practice
Which sentence uses the word correctly and spelled correctly?
Choose one answer.
The standard spelling is g-r-e-n-a-d-e. The other options are misspellings, and 'granade' is the one people most often write by mistake.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “grenade”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.