💣 Plane-fighting weapon ✈️ Against planes

antiaircraft

4.9

Used on the ground to stop or destroy aircraft

adjective
/ˌæn.tiˈɛr.kræft/

Specialized

: antiaéreo

The base was surrounded by antiaircraft guns to protect it from enemy bombers.
an antiaircraft gun

Examples

They installed antiaircraft systems around the city.
During the air raid, the soldiers quickly took positions behind their antiaircraft defenses to protect the base.
An antiaircraft battery opened fire when enemy planes appeared overhead.
They installed new antiaircraft missile systems along the coastline.
The army deployed antiaircraft missiles to protect the base.
The military installed new antiaircraft systems to improve security against potential aerial threats.
They showcased an advanced antiaircraft missile system capable of targeting enemy planes from significant distances.

Synonyms

surface-to-air

vsantiaircraft

Specialized

26 6.6

A weapon launched from the ground to hit targets in the air

covers ground defenses generally rather than only weapons launched from the ground

Compounds

antiaircraft gun

Specialized

1 5.3

A large gun on the ground that shoots at planes

antiaircraft fire

Specialized

1 5.9

Gunfire from the ground aimed at enemy planes to stop an air attack

How Strong

antiaircraft gun

Specialized

1 5.3

antiaircraft

Specialized

4.9

Surface Forms

antiaircraft positive

Morphology

antiaircraft = aircraft (transparent) = anti + air + craft

The meaning is directly compositional: 'anti-' means against and 'aircraft' names the target, so the sense is readily inferable.

Etymology

The word antiaircraft combines anti- 'against' and aircraft 'airplane'. That's why antiaircraft describes weapons or defenses on the ground made to stop or protect against planes.