antiaircraft gun

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Sure! Let's break down the term "antiaircraft gun."

Definition

An antiaircraft gun is a type of artillery (heavy military weapons) that is specifically designed to shoot upward at airplanes. This means it is used to protect ground targets from enemy planes by firing shells or bullets into the sky.

Usage Instructions

• Noun: You can use "antiaircraft gun" to refer to this specific type of weapon. It is usually not used in plural form unless you are talking about multiple guns.
• Example: "During the war, the soldiers set up antiaircraft guns to defend the city from enemy bombers."

Advanced Usage

In a more advanced context, you might encounter discussions about the effectiveness of different types of antiaircraft weapons, including modern technologies like missiles that target aircraft.

Word Variants

• Antiaircraft: This can also be used as an adjective. For example, "antiaircraft missile" refers to a missile designed to take out planes.
• Gun: The word "gun" can refer to various types of firearms, but when combined, "antiaircraft gun" specifies the purpose.

Different Meaning

While "gun" generally means a weapon that shoots, in this specific term, it emphasizes the function of protecting against aerial threats.

Synonyms

• Flak gun
• Air defense artillery
• Sky gun (less common)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

There aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly relate to "antiaircraft gun," but in military contexts, you might hear phrases like "fire at will," which means to shoot whenever you see a target.

Summary

So, an antiaircraft gun is a military weapon designed to target and shoot at aircraft. It plays a crucial role in defense strategies during conflicts.

Academic

Noun

1. artillery designed to shoot upward at airplanes

Synonyms

• antiaircraft
• flak
• flack
• pom-pom
• ack-ack
• ack-ack gun