ground alert
Americannoun
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the state of waiting for orders in or near combat airplanes ready to take to the air at once.
-
the aircraft standing by during a ground alert.
Etymology
Origin of ground alert
First recorded in 1960–65
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.
Reason: any change in a plane's ground alert status is regarded as "uncocking" and lessens the alert capability.
From Time Magazine Archive
In addition, the new proposals will speed up the program to put half of SAC's bombers on 15-minute ground alert.
From Time Magazine Archive
At the same time, SAC greatly increased the number of B-52 bombers�usually about 50%�on 15-minute ground alert.
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
