grenade

noun

gre·​nade grə-ˈnād 

: a small missile that contains an explosive or a chemical agent (such as tear gas, a flame producer, or a smoke producer) and that is thrown by hand or projected (as by a rifle or special launcher)

Examples of grenade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Everything from mortar bombs to grenades to rocket warheads, in fact pretty much anything small enough, gets carried by a drone. —David Hambling, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

In order to save her sister, Jinx sacrifices herself and seemingly dies in a grenade explosion. —Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 26 Nov. 2024

The Azerbaijanis have been fighting off and on for more than 30 years with Armenia, another ex-Soviet state a grenade toss to the west, but tonight the war can wait. —Tim Neville, Outside Online, 25 Nov. 2024

Tijuana concert by Larry Hernandez canceled after grenades thrown outside of venue San Diego urgently needs more homeless shelters. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, literally, pomegranate, from Late Latin granata, from Latin, feminine of granatus seedy, from granum grain — more at corn

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing grenade

• concussion grenade
• flash-bang grenade
• flash grenade
• fragmentation grenade
• smoke grenade
• stun grenade

Kids Definition

grenade

noun

gre·​nade grə-ˈnād 

: a small bomb that is thrown by hand or launched (as by a rifle)

Etymology

from early French grenade, granade "pomegranate, grenade," from Latin granata "pomegranate," derived from Latin granatus "seedy," from granum "grain, seed" — related to garnet, grain, pomegranate see Word History at garnet