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  • salvo
    salvo
    noun
    a simultaneous or successive discharge of artillery, bombs, etc.
  • Salvo
    Salvo
    noun
    a member of the Salvation Army
Synonyms

salvo

1 American  
[sal-voh] / ˈsæl voʊ /

noun

salvos, plural salvoes plural
  1. a simultaneous or successive discharge of artillery, bombs, etc.

  2. a round of fire given as a salute.

  3. a round of cheers or applause.


salvo 2 American  
[sal-voh] / ˈsæl voʊ /

noun

Archaic.
salvos plural
  1. an excuse or quibbling evasion.

  2. something to save a person's reputation or soothe a person's feelings.


salvo 1 British  
/ ˈsælvəʊ /

noun

  1. a discharge of fire from weapons in unison, esp on a ceremonial occasion

  2. concentrated fire from many weapons, as in a naval battle

  3. an outburst, as of applause

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

salvo 2 British  
/ ˈsælvəʊ /

noun

  1. an excuse or evasion

  2. an expedient to save a reputation or soothe hurt feelings

  3. (in legal documents) a saving clause; reservation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Salvo 3 British  
/ ˈsælvəʊ /

noun

  1. slang a member of the Salvation Army

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of salvo1

1585–95; earlier salva < Italian ≪ Latin salvē salve 3

Origin of salvo2

1635–45; < Latin salvō, ablative of salvus safe, found in legal phrases

Explanation

A salvo is when troops fire their guns all at the same time. A salvo of shots might signal the beginning of a military battle. Another word for the gunfire kind of salvo is a "volley." Military planners have used salvos as a way to overwhelm an opposing army, including during engagements between battleships and tanks. You can also use salvo in a more figurative way, describing a verbal barrage or attack: "Her direct, almost rude questions were seen as the opening salvo in the battle between the two political candidates."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing salvo

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sara Morel, CEO of Salvo, a Staffordshire-based architectural salvage firm, said the company had been asked to help re-home the collection to "preserve its future".

From BBC • Aug. 22, 2024

The last time that Donna De Salvo, a senior adjunct curator at Dia, worked with McQueen, in 2016, she was chief curator at the Whitney Museum, where they showed “End Credits.”

From New York Times • May 10, 2024

In a written statement released Saturday, the Rev. Enrique Salvo, pastor of Saint Patrick’s, thanked people he said had informed the church that they “share our outrage over the scandalous behavior” at the funeral.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 18, 2024

The victim in the case also spoke K’iche’, De Salvo said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 27, 2023

I was introduced to the gentleman who had said "Salvo!"

From Now It Can Be Told by Gibbs, Philip

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