air hammer
1
5.0
- noun
- /ɛr ˈhæmɚ/
- Specialized
:
martillo neumático
- The construction workers used an air hammer to break through the asphalt quickly.
Examples
-
He carefully operated the air hammer, ensuring each strike was precise to avoid damaging the surrounding material.
-
Behind them came an array of automated air hammers, smashing the roadway to bits.
Fiction book (1990) -
Either a robot with an air hammer performed this shearing effect, or water flowed vigorously to achieve the smashed, tumbled appearance.
Blog text (10) -
I've got air hammers and gas forgers and electric kilns which I used for experimentation and making sure that what I think is happening the ancient way is actually happening with some modern tests.
-
To remove the old tiles, you need an air hammer that can deliver powerful blows.
Synonyms
24
4.9
A heavy tool that breaks concrete and other hard surfaces
A machine that uses air or electricity to hit metal and rock repeatedly
A large machine that shapes metal by dropping a heavy weight onto it
A heavy tool that uses air to break concrete or rock
A tool with an electric motor that drives nails or breaks hard things
How Powerful
- US
24
4.9
- Specialized
1
5.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a hammer powered by compressed air' is directly and compositionally derived from 'air' (the medium/agent) + 'hammer' (a tool), which yields a type-of hammer specified by its power source. This follows a common English noun–noun modifier pattern (e.g. air pump, air compressor) and is likely inferable by a B1 learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
Air hammer comes from the tool's literal parts: a hammer driven by air under pressure, which makes very fast, strong hits. So, the name means 'a tool that uses air to hit things quickly'.