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combat ship

combat ship

1 5.3
A navy ship built to fight at sea
  • noun
translation icon : buque de combate
  • The military plans to increase the number of combat ships in its fleet to enhance maritime security.
  • littoral combat ships
  • Navy combat ship
  • new combat ships

Examples

  • Today, a great majority of the U.S. Navy's surface combat ships are powered by LM2500 turbines, including the current fleet of DDG51 Arleigh Burke destroyers.

    Academic text (2009)
  • She reports that it was when women yeomen began receiving orders to report to duty on combat ships that an F (for female) was appended to the designation of Yeoman.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Technologically modern combat ships (and their support shipping) are critical, but only in sufficient numbers to survive a determined attack and complete their missions.

    Blog text (23)
  • Defend the continued construction of the littoral combat ship, grossly over budget and doesn't meet design specs.

    Blog text (21)
  • Captain Jeffrey Riedel was fired on Jan. 26 as program manager for the Navy's littoral combat ship program due to allegations of inappropriate behavior.

    Blog text (1)
  • For example, previous laws segregated blacks in units commanded by white officers, limited the number of servicewomen in uniform, and prohibited women from performing duties aboard combat ships or aircraft.

    Academic text (1994)
  • It might put on view its plans to deploy in the strait the new littoral combat ships, the first of which is due to enter service soon with advanced mine countermeasure capabilities, including unmanned underwater vehicles.

    Academic text (2007)
  • In 2020, the Navy launched a new combat ship equipped with advanced weaponry.

  • The destroyer is a powerful combat ship that can engage multiple targets simultaneously.

Synonyms

carrier
vscombat ship
171 6.3

A large warship with a flat deck for aircraft to take off and land

is the general government ship term not specific to carrying aircraft
warship
vscombat ship
140 3.6

A navy boat built for fighting at sea

is the same concept but uses government phrasing rather than armed forces
battleship
vscombat ship
  • Archaic
68 5.5

A large ship used in war with thick metal armor and big guns

is broader, covering all government ships used in war rather than heavy gun types
battle cruiser
vscombat ship
  • Archaic
5 7.2

A large warship with big guns made to be fast but with lighter armor than a battleship

is the broader government ship concept not tied to speed or armor
capital ship
vscombat ship
  • Specialized
2 7.9

A very large warship like a battleship or aircraft carrier with heavy weapons

is a general government ship term without rank or importance focus
guided missile cruiser
vscombat ship
  • Specialized
1 8.0

A large military ship that carries missiles to attack and defend at long range

is the general government ship term without specific weapon focus
guided missile destroyer
vscombat ship
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A fast military ship that carries weapons that can steer themselves to attack ships and aircraft

is the broader government ship term not limited to speed or missile armament
ship of the line
vscombat ship
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A large warship that fights in the main line of ships in sea battles from the 1600s to the 1800s

is the general government ship name not limited to historical battle tactics
torpedo boat
vscombat ship
  • Specialized
1 6.3

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

is the general government naval ship term not limited to torpedo attacks
man-of-war
vscombat ship
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A large armed ship used by navies from the 1500s to the 1800s

is the general government ship term for all eras, not only historical types
war vessel
vscombat ship
  • Specialized
5.1

A ship a government uses for fighting at sea

is the general expression for government ships used to wage war
attack aircraft carrier
vscombat ship
  • Specialized
8.1

A big military ship with a long flat deck that carries and launches fighter planes

is the general government ship term not restricted to offensive aircraft use
pocket battleship
vscombat ship
  • Archaic
8.6

A small warship with very heavy guns, smaller than a battleship

is the general government ship term not limited by treaty rules
subchaser
vscombat ship
  • Archaic
9.1

A small fast navy boat that hunts and attacks submarines

is the general government ship term not specific to anti submarine missions

How Powerful

sea power
1 4.8
navy
203 2.0
combat ship
1 5.3

Surface Forms

combat ship singular
combat ships plural

Morphology

combat + ship

The meaning 'a ship designed and equipped for waging war' is directly derivable from combining 'combat' (armed engagement) with 'ship' (a vessel); the noun is being used attributively in a regular compounding pattern. This compositional pattern (modifier + noun) is common in English and other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The noun combat ship comes from a simple image: a ship made and armed for combat, carrying guns and sailors ready to fight at sea. Because people saw these ships used for war, the phrase today means 'a government ship designed and equipped for waging war'.