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Glite Dictionary
motor torpedo boat

motor torpedo boat

8.1
A small fast navy boat that carries torpedoes to attack ships
  • noun
  • /ˈmoʊtər tɔrˈpiːdoʊ boʊt/
  • Archaic
translation icon : lancha torpedera
  • The navy deployed several motor torpedo boats to patrol the coastal waters during the training exercise.

Examples

  • He joined the navy and served aboard a motor torpedo boat in the Mediterranean Sea.

  • The museum is restoring a historic motor torpedo boat for public display.

  • During World War II, the motor torpedo boat was famous for its speed and agility in coastal attacks.

  • The motor torpedo boat sped across the waves.

  • During World War II, many motor torpedo boats were deployed.

  • During World War II, motor torpedo boats were used for swift attacks against enemy ships.

  • The documentary highlighted the role of motor torpedo boats in naval warfare, focusing on their speed and agility.

Synonyms

PT boat
vsmotor torpedo boat
  • Archaic
2 8.1

A small fast US Navy boat with torpedoes used in World War II

is unarmored rather than lightly protected
torpedo boat
vsmotor torpedo boat
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A small fast military boat that fires underwater bombs near the coast

is a specific unarmored patrol and attack boat from early and mid twentieth century
mosquito craft
vsmotor torpedo boat
  • Archaic
9.2

A small, fast boat with light weapons used to attack or patrol

is the same type but focuses on torpedoes rather than other light weapons
mosquito boat
vsmotor torpedo boat
  • Archaic
8.1

A small, fast war boat used for quick attacks and patrols

is used more generally across early and mid twentieth century conflicts

Surface Forms

motor torpedo boat singular
motor torpedo boats plural

Morphology

motor + torpedo + boat

The compound is a straightforward composition of literal nouns: a boat powered by a motor and equipped with torpedoes. Because each constituent contributes directly to the overall meaning and similar noun-noun compounding exists across languages, a B1 learner who knows 'motor', 'torpedo' and 'boat' can reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Motor torpedo boat comes from a simple picture: a small boat with a strong motor that carried a torpedo for quick attacks at sea. So today it means 'a small, fast boat armed with torpedoes' used for quick coastal or sea attacks.