frag bomb
Definition
Noun: - Military explosive device: A "frag bomb" is a type of bomb designed to explode into numerous small, sharp fragments (or shrapnel) upon detonation, intended to cause maximum injury to personnel rather than structural damage. It is also known as a "fragmentation bomb."
Usage Examples
- (A fragmentation bomb that scatters metal pieces.)
- (An explosive weapon that produces shrapnel.)
Advanced Usage
"Frag bomb" as a synonym for "fragmentation bomb": In military contexts, "frag bomb" is a shortened, informal term for a fragmentation bomb.
- The frag bomb's casing was designed to break into hundreds of lethal fragments. (The bomb's shell shatters into dangerous pieces.)
Historical usage: During the Vietnam War, frag bombs were commonly used in aerial attacks to clear areas of enemy troops.
- The air strike included several frag bombs to target enemy positions. (The bombing mission used fragmentation bombs.)
Variants and Related Words
Fragmentation bomb (n): the full, formal term for a frag bomb.
- The fragmentation bomb is effective against infantry in open terrain. (A bomb that disperses shrapnel.)
Frag (n): a slang term for a fragmentation grenade or, by extension, a frag bomb.
- He threw a frag into the bunker. (A fragmentation grenade.)
Synonyms
- Fragmentation bomb: the standard technical name for this type of weapon.
- Shrapnel bomb: a bomb that produces shrapnel (though "shrapnel" originally refers to a specific type of artillery shell).
Related Idioms
- "Frag out": a military warning shouted to alert others that a fragmentation grenade or bomb has been deployed.
- The sergeant yelled "Frag out!" as the grenade was thrown. (A warning about a fragmentation device.)
Additional Notes
- The term "frag bomb" is distinct from "bomb" in general: a standard bomb may cause blast damage, while a frag bomb specifically maximizes injury through flying fragments. It is not used for nuclear or chemical weapons.