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

Robyn subdues her tormentor and narrowly escapes the building after a grenade is thrown her way. —Erica Thompson, TVLine, 20 Oct. 2024

Hamas attackers threw grenades into the shelter, killing another and blowing off Hersh's left forearm. —Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 14 Oct. 2024

Goldberg-Polin helped to throw some of those grenades back out of the shelter before his left arm was blown off from the elbow down, according to a firsthand account from one of his friends. —Hanna Ziady, CNN, 14 Oct. 2024

The drone dropped a grenade which actually brushed Anastasia’s body before exploding at her feet. —David Hambling, Forbes, 11 Oct. 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