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anti-aircraft cruiser

anti-aircraft cruiser

8.2
A military ship armed with many guns to defend against enemy planes
  • noun
  • /ˈæn.tiˌɛr.kræft ˈkruː.zər/
  • Archaic
translation icon : crucero antiaéreo
  • During World War II, the Royal Navy converted several vessels into anti-aircraft cruisers to enhance air defense at sea.

Examples

  • With extra radar and rapid-firing guns, an anti-aircraft cruiser was vital for convoy protection.

  • The anti-aircraft cruiser was deployed to protect the fleet from enemy bombers during the battle.

  • The anti-aircraft cruiser patrolled the coast.

  • Many navies deploy anti-aircraft cruisers for protection.

  • During World War II, the Royal Navy converted several vessels into anti-aircraft cruisers to enhance air defense at sea.

  • The anti-aircraft cruiser was deployed to protect the fleet from enemy bombers during the battle.

  • With extra radar and rapid-firing guns, an anti-aircraft cruiser was vital for convoy protection.

Synonyms

warship
vsanti-aircraft cruiser
140 3.6

A navy boat built for fighting at sea

is a specialized naval vessel built mainly to defend against aircraft with high-angle guns
cruiser
vsanti-aircraft cruiser
  • Specialized
50 7.4

A large fast warship that fights at sea

is the same vessel type but adapted mainly to defend against aircraft
light cruiser
vsanti-aircraft cruiser
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A small warship with light armor and guns used for escort and patrol

is the same class but modified to carry many high-angle guns for air defence

How Anti-Air

anti-aircraft cruiser
  • Archaic
8.2
destroyer
  • Specialized
62 7.3
light cruiser
  • Specialized
1 7.2
corvette
  • Specialized
43 8.2
patrol boat
  • Specialized
7 3.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

anti-aircraft + cruiser

The compound is directly compositional: 'anti-aircraft' (against or designed to defend from aircraft) modifies 'cruiser' (a type of warship), so the phrase denotes a warship equipped to defend against aircraft. This is a transparent modifier+noun construction that follows a common cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should be able to infer the meaning.

Etymology

Anti-aircraft cruiser shows its name: a cruiser is a war ship and anti-aircraft means 'against aircraft'. During war these ships were fitted with many tall guns pointing into the sky to stop enemy planes, so the name means 'a warship built to protect against enemy aircraft'.