active air defense
1
6.1
- noun
- Specialized
:
defensa aérea activa
- The radar detected an incoming threat, prompting the active air defense units to engage immediately.
Examples
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I repeat, active air defense scramble.
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This is Huntress with an active air defense scramble.
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The military implemented an active air defense system to protect the city from potential missile attacks.
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During training exercises, the pilots practiced active air defense maneuvers to intercept enemy drones.
Synonyms
30
4.2
Systems and weapons that protect a place from enemy aircraft or missiles
Antonyms
- Specialized
Steps that protect people and buildings from enemy air attack without fighting back
How Active
- Specialized
1
6.1
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'defense' (protection) modified by 'air' (aerial domain) and 'active' (proactive/intercepting measures), so a learner who knows the parts can infer it refers to proactive protection against aerial threats. Although somewhat technical/military in detail, the adjective+noun+noun structure and the semantic roles are transparent and cross-linguistically common.
Etymology
Active air defense gives the image of defenders being active in the air — they go up with planes and missiles to stop attackers instead of only hiding on the ground. So it means 'air defense that takes action to stop attacking threats'.