depth-charge

A depth-charge explodes underwater during a naval exercise.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Naval explosive device: A "depth-charge" is an explosive weapon designed to be dropped from a ship or aircraft and detonate at a preset depth underwater, typically used to attack submarines.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The destroyer released a depth-charge to neutralize the enemy submarine. (The ship deployed an explosive device to destroy the underwater threat.)
  • During the war, depth-charges were the primary anti-submarine weapon. (These devices were the main tool for attacking submarines.)

Advanced Usage

• "depth-charge attack": a military operation involving the use of depth-charges.

  • The convoy survived a depth-charge attack from the pursuing warship. (The ships endured an assault with underwater explosives.)

• "to drop a depth-charge": to release a depth-charge into the water.

  • The aircraft circled back to drop another depth-charge on the suspected submarine. (The plane returned to deploy another explosive.)

Variants and Related Words

• Depth-charge (n): the same as "depth-charge"; the hyphen is often used interchangeably.

  • The submarine evaded the depth-charge by diving deeper. (The underwater vessel avoided the explosive by going to greater depths.)

• Depth bomb (n): an alternative term for depth-charge.

  • The navy upgraded its depth bomb arsenal for modern warfare. (The military improved its underwater explosive weapons.)

Synonyms

• Underwater explosive: a device that detonates beneath the water's surface.
• Anti-submarine weapon: a weapon specifically designed to target submarines.

Related Idioms

• "to be in the depth-charge zone": to be in an area where depth-charges are being used, often implying danger.
  • The crew knew they were in the depth-charge zone when explosions shook the hull. (The sailors realized they were in a hazardous area under attack.)