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.

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depth charge British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of depth charge

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

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

The release of the Rapinoe interview during the last week of June was a journalistic depth charge timed for maximum impact.

From The Guardian • Dec. 24, 2019

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

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan