Advanced Academic IELTS Words for "War"

armada

noun

a

ɑ

r

m

a

ɑ

d

a

ə

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a very large assembled fleet of military warships operating under a unified command

mercenary

noun

m

e

ɜ

r

c

s

e

ə

n

a

ɛ

r

y

i

a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army, often motivated by payment rather than ideological or national allegiance

armistice

noun

a

ɑ

r

m

i

ə

s

t

i

ə

c

s

e

a temporary stoppage or truce in hostilities between parties engaged in a war or conflict

barricade

noun

b

a

æ

rr

r

i

ə

c

k

a

eɪ

d

e

a defensive barrier erected during wartime to obstruct enemy movement and provide protection for defending forces

battalion

noun

b

a

ə

tt

t

a

æ

l

i

j

o

ə

n

a military unit composed of a varying number of companies or platoons, typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel

platoon

noun

p

l

a

ə

t

oo

u

n

the military unit that is a subdivision of a company with a lieutenant in charge

espionage

noun

e

ɛ

s

p

io

iə

n

a

ɑ

g

ʤ

e

the covert gathering of information for political, military, or economic purposes, often conducted by intelligence agencies

coup

noun

c

k

ou

u

p

an unexpected, illegal, and often violent attempt to change a government

guerrilla

noun

g

ue

ɜ

rr

r

i

ɪ

ll

l

a

ə

a person who participates in irregular fighting as a member of an unofficial military group

onslaught

noun

o

ɔ

n

s

l

au

ɔ

gh

t

a fierce and intense attack, often with the goal of overwhelming the opponent

armament

noun

a

ɑ

r

m

a

ə

m

e

ə

n

t

the military equipment and weaponry used by a country or military force

artillery

noun

a

ɑ

r

t

i

ɪ

ll

l

e

ɜ

r

y

i

big heavy guns that are attached on top of moving wheels or tracks

arsenal

noun

a

ɑ

r

s

e

ə

n

a

ə

l

a building where military equipment are stored or manufactured

deterrent

noun

d

e

ɪ

t

e

ɜ

rr

r

e

ə

n

t

a military strategy or capability designed to dissuade an adversary from aggression

ammunition

noun

a

æ

mm

m

u

j

ə

n

i

ɪ

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

projectiles, bullets, shells, or explosive devices used in firearms, artillery, or other weapons

catapult

noun

c

k

a

æ

t

a

ə

p

u

ə

l

t

a large weapon that was used in ancient times to throw stones or other objects with great force

bazooka

noun

b

a

ə

z

oo

u

k

a

ə

a portable rocket launcher designed for use against tanks and armored vehicles

to lance

Verb

l

a

æ

n

c

s

e

to thrust or strike with a long-pointed weapon

shrapnel

noun

sh

ʃ

r

a

æ

p

n

e

ə

l

fragments from an explosion, causing damage to surroundings

musket

noun

m

u

ə

s

k

e

ə

t

an early firearm with a long barrel, used by infantry from the 16th to 18th centuries

mortar

noun

m

o

ɔ

r

t

a

ɜ

r

a short-barreled, muzzle-loaded artillery piece that fires explosive shells at high angles for close-range support

affray

noun

a

ff

f

r

a

e

y

ɪ

a public fight involving a group of people, typically causing a disturbance or public disorder

air raid

noun

/ˈɛɹ ɹˈeɪd/

an attack by aircraft, typically involving the dropping of bombs, on a location or a series of locations

atrocity

noun

a

ə

t

r

o

ɑ

c

s

i

ə

t

y

i

an extremely brutal act, especially in war

bridgehead

noun

b

r

i

ɪ

dg

ʤ

e

h

ea

e

d

a secured area on the enemy's side of a river or other obstacle, established by military forces to serve as a base for further operations

evacuee

noun

e

i

v

a

æ

c

k

u

ju

ee

i

an individual who is forced to flee from a dangerous place or region

garrison

noun

g

a

æ

rr

r

i

ɪ

s

o

ə

n

a group of military personnel stationed in a specific location or military base, often for the purpose of defending it

to blitz

Verb

b

l

i

ɪ

t

z

s

to carry out a sudden and intense military attack

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

to pillage

Verb

p

i

ɪ

ll

l

a

ɪ

g

ʤ

e

to plunder, typically during times of war or civil unrest

to plunder

Verb

p

l

u

ə

n

d

e

ɜ

r

to steal goods from a place or person, especially during times of war, chaos, or civil disorder

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to strafe

Verb

s

t

r

a

eɪ

f

e

to attack ground targets, such as enemy troops or installations, with gunfire from low-flying aircraft

to outflank

Verb

o

a

u

ʊ

t

f

l

a

æ

n

k

to maneuver around the side of an enemy force, position, or defensive line in order to gain a tactical advantage

to annihilate

Verb

a

ə

nn

n

i

aɪə

h

i

l

a

eɪ

t

e

to destroy someone or something completely

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to vanquish

Verb

v

a

æ

n

q

k

u

w

i

ɪ

sh

ʃ

to defeat someone completely and decisively

Grammatical Information:

transitive

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You learned 34 words from Talking about War. To improve learning and review vocabulary, start practicing.

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