howitzer

/ˈhaʊɪtsə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhaʊɪtsər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhau̇-ət-sər/ (ame, mw)

howitzer — noun

  • howitzersingular
  • howitzersplural

1. a kind of heavy military weapon with a stubby barrel, designed to lob explosive

1.名詞C2
釋義

a kind of heavy military weapon with a stubby barrel, designed to lob explosive shells in a steep arc so they fall down onto a target rather than travelling on a flat path.

例句

The soldiers spent two hours dragging the heavy howitzer up the muddy hillside.

concrete object: heavy howitzer + transport verb

Hugo watched through binoculars as a howitzer fired three shells over the ridge.

collocation: howitzer + fire shells

同義詞
  • cannon

    general term for a large mounted gun; a howitzer is a specific type

  • field gun

    mobile artillery piece, but typically fires on a flatter path than a howitzer

  • mortar

    shorter range, even steeper arc, usually portable; a howitzer is bigger and reaches farther

用法筆記

Distinguish from a regular cannon or field gun: a howitzer's defining feature is the high, arching trajectory of its shells, used to hit targets hidden behind hills or walls.

常見錯誤

❌The soldier shot a howitzer at the enemy.
✅The soldier fired a howitzer at the enemy.
💡large guns are 'fired', not 'shot'.