depth charge

American  

noun

1. an explosive device that is used against submarines and other underwater targets, and is usually set to detonate at a predetermined depth.

---

depth charge British  

noun

1. a bomb used to attack submarines that explodes at a pre-set depth of water

---

Etymology

Origin of depth charge

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

depth charge

Navy dropped a depth charge on a Soviet submarine.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022

DeBoer will stress to the candidates to concentrate on their progress and not how they stand on the thus-far hypothetical depth charge.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 29, 2022

The water explodes like a depth charge has just gone off, and he emerges covered in suds, somehow having avoided fracturing his tail bone, like a legend.

From Slate ● Jun. 22, 2021

Flying from Lincolnshire at tree-top height, 19 planes with seven-man crews braved anti-aircraft fire, power cables and mountainous terrain to drop the extraordinary four-tonne skipping depth charge.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2013

The giant’s laughter echoed like a detonating depth charge.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan