grenade

[gri-neyd]

noun

1. a small shell containing an explosive and thrown by hand or fired from a rifle or launching device.

2. a similar missile containing a chemical, as for dispersing tear gas or fire-extinguishing substances.

verb (used with object)

grenaded, grenading 

1. to attack with a grenade or grenades.

grenade

/ ɡrɪˈneɪd /

noun

1. a small container filled with explosive thrown by hand or fired from a rifle

2. a sealed glass vessel that is thrown and shatters to release chemicals, such as tear gas or a fire extinguishing agent

Word History and Origins

Origin of grenade¹

1525–35; < French < Spanish granada pomegranate, special use of granado having grains < Latin grānātus. See grain, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of grenade¹

C16: from French, from Spanish granada pomegranate, from Late Latin grānāta, from Latin grānātus seedy; see _grain

Example Sentences

Now, she’s a mom on the edge, a woman resigned to life’s fringes, where she must tiptoe around live grenades so as not to make anything worse.

Read more on Salon

The operator flicked a switch to release a grenade, which exploded and tore into the legs of the 69-year-old pensioner.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Vera first ordered restrictions in July on the use of 40mm projectile launchers, tear gas, stun grenades and other crowd control weapons at street protests.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The officers then made an emergency entry to the property using flashbang grenades and detained Ley in a bedroom.

Read more on BBC

She reflects that her response — “There is nothing that comes to mind” — landed as if she’d “pulled the pin on a hand grenade.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times