Shrapnel
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈʃɹæpnəl/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Shrapnel is a noun meaning (military, historical) The bullets or balls from the aforementioned type of artillery shell.
Meaning
(military, historical) The bullets or balls from the aforementioned type of artillery shell.
More Meanings
- (military) Any shot, fragments, or debris thrown out by an exploding shell, bomb, or landmine.
- (by extension, figurative) Debris.
- (military, historical) An anti-personnel artillery shell used in World War I which carries a large number of individual bullets or balls close to the target and then ejects them to allow them to continue along the shell's trajectory and strike the target individually.
- (slang, figurative) Loose change.
Example Sentences
The dog ate my sandwich, and there was shrapnel all over the place from him tearing open the bag.
I was waiting in the queue, looking at the board / Wondering whether to have a burger or chips / Or what the shrapnel in my back pocket could afford
Word Forms
- shrapnels
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include shelling, mortar, chip, shard, splinter, strobe.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.