Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
close supporting fire

close supporting fire

8.5
Gunfire aimed near friendly troops to protect them from immediate enemy threats
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : fuego de apoyo cercano
  • Effective close supporting fire protected our troops during the critical phase of the operation.

Examples

  • The commander requested close supporting fire as enemy forces advanced toward their position.

  • Air units provided close supporting fire to suppress hostile positions threatening the infantry.

  • The troops called for close supporting fire during the battle.

  • We need close supporting fires to defend our position.

  • Air units provided close supporting fire to suppress hostile positions threatening the infantry.

  • The commander requested close supporting fire as enemy forces advanced toward their position.

  • Effective close supporting fire protected our troops during the critical phase of the operation.

Synonyms

covering fire
vsclose supporting fire
  • Specialized
3 7.7

Intense gunfire aimed near an enemy to keep them from shooting back while friendly troops move

is aimed beside friendly troops to shield them from the most immediate threats
suppressive fire
vsclose supporting fire
  • Specialized
1 7.8

Continuous gunfire aimed at an enemy to stop them firing or moving so friendly troops can advance

is fired very close to friendly forces specifically to protect them from immediate threats
supporting fire
vsclose supporting fire
  • Specialized
1 7.0

Gunfire by other soldiers or tanks that protects attacking soldiers from the enemy

is aimed right beside friendly forces to protect them from immediate threats
close support
vsclose supporting fire
  • Specialized
1 7.3

Help for soldiers from nearby troops that attack the enemy

is focused on protecting friendly troops from their most immediate dangers
direct supporting fire
vsclose supporting fire
  • Jargon
8.4

Fire from guns or artillery that helps one group of soldiers during combat

is directed close to friendly units to protect them from immediate threats

Antonyms

indirect fire
  • Specialized
1 8.2

Shooting at a target you cannot see using calculations or people who watch

How Near

close supporting fire
  • Specialized
8.5
supporting fire
  • Specialized
1 7.0

Surface Forms

close supporting fire singular
close supporting fires plural

Morphology

close + supporting + fire

Each constituent contributes directly to the overall meaning: 'fire' = gunfire, 'supporting' = providing assistance to friendly units, and 'close' = near in distance. This is a straightforward modifier + noun composition (close + supporting + fire) found in military contexts and can be inferred by a B1 learner who knows the component words.

Etymology

Close supporting fire comes from the image of guns or planes firing very near friendly soldiers to stop nearby enemy attacks. The word close shows how near the shots are, supporting shows they help the troops, and fire is the shooting, so the phrase means 'gunfire used to protect friendly units'.