Meaning & use
salvo
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Meanings
nouncountablemilitary
A burst of gunfire or missiles, shot together or in quick order from many weapons.
Grammar: Takes an article: a salvo of rockets.
Patterns
- a salvo of something
- fire a salvo
The ship fired a salvo at the enemy fort.
A salvo of rockets lit up the night sky.
The cannons answered with a second salvo.
nouncountablefigurative
A sudden series of angry words, questions or blows, especially at the start of an argument.
Grammar: Often followed by of: a salvo of insults.
Patterns
- a salvo of something
- open with a salvo
- the first salvo
The senator opened the debate with a salvo of criticism.
She fired the first salvo in the pricing war.
The newspaper unleashed a salvo of questions about the deal.
nouncountableliterary
A loud burst of applause or cheering from a crowd.
Grammar: Used with of: a salvo of applause.
Patterns
- a salvo of applause
A salvo of applause greeted the singer.
The speech ended to a salvo of cheers.
The stadium erupted in a salvo of horns.
Word forms
| plural | salvos |
|---|---|
| alternative plural | salvoes |
Common combinations
- opening salvo
- The report was the opening salvo in a long legal fight.
- fire a salvo
- The battery fired a salvo at dawn.
- salvo of criticism
- The mayor faced a salvo of criticism.
- first salvo
- The tax proposal was the first salvo in the budget battle.
- salvo of applause
- A salvo of applause shook the hall.
Synonyms and how they differ
- volley
- Is nearly interchangeable and also describes many things thrown or shot at once, but it is more common for sport and arrows.
- barrage
- Suggests a heavy, continuous attack and is longer-lasting than a single salvo.
- broadside
- Means a sudden, forceful verbal attack and also a ship's side of cannons, with a harsher tone.
- fusillade
- Is a rapid series of shots and is a more literary word than salvo.
Word family
Commonly confused: salvo or salvage? salvo or salve?
salvo vs salvage
Salvage means to rescue goods from damage, and is not related to firing weapons.
salvo vs salve
A salve is an ointment that soothes the skin, while a salvo is a burst of firing or words.
Practice
The minister's speech was the opening ____ in a long campaign against the new law.
Choose one answer.
An opening salvo is the first forceful action of a fight. A salve is an ointment, and salvage and savior do not form this phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “salvo”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.