Abrams tank

noun

variants or less commonly Abrams
: a heavily armored military tank produced in the United States
After the Iraqi soldiers came under attack, American forces in Abrams tanks, … rumbled to the scene.Erica Goode and Michael R. Gordon, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2008
One Abrams was hit twice, but its internal compartmentation and fire suppression systems enabled all of the crew members to survive.Faris R. Kirkland, The Gulf War And Mental Health, 1996

Word History

Etymology

after Creighton Abrams †1974 American commander of armored troops and U.S. Army chief of staff

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Abrams tank was in 1976

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near Abrams tank

Cite this Entry

“Abrams tank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Abrams%20tank. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!