torpedo tube

4 7.0

A tube in a warship or submarine that fires a torpedo

noun
/tɔrˈpiːdoʊ tuːb/

Specialized

: tubo de torpedos

The captain ordered, 'Fire the torpedo from torpedo tube one immediately!'
open the torpedo tube
torpedo tube doors
eight torpedo tubes

Examples

After extensive maintenance, the torpedo tube was deemed ready for the next launch operation.
Load all torpedo tubes.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Shall I open the torpedo tube door, sir?

The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Can you fix the torpedo tube?

U-571 (2000)
Open torpedo tube number eight.

K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)
Those are too big to be torpedo tubes.

The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Torpedo tube 3 is ready.

2010: Moby Dick (2010)
We haven't even checked the torpedo tubes yet.

Hell and High Water (1954)
Torpedo tubes loaded.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
The submarine crew prepared to launch a torpedo from the torpedo tube at the approaching enemy ship.

Surface Forms

torpedo tube singular

torpedo tubes plural

Morphology

torpedo + tube

The meaning 'a tube from which a torpedo is launched' is directly derivable from combining 'torpedo' (an underwater missile) and 'tube' (a hollow cylinder). This noun+noun compositional pattern is literal and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE even if they lack naval-specific experience.

Etymology

Torpedo tube comes from warships and submarines and names a long hollow tube that holds a torpedo and pushes it out into the water to start its journey. That's why it means 'a tube used to launch a torpedo'.