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Glite Dictionary
countermortar fire

countermortar fire

9.6
Fire from guns aimed at enemy mortar positions to destroy or stop them
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : fuego de contrabatería
  • The commanders ordered countermortar fire after detecting the enemy’s mortar position.

Examples

  • Intelligence provided accurate coordinates for launching countermortar fire against hostile positions.

  • Our unit came under heavy countermortar fire while advancing across the field.

  • The army initiated countermortar fire to suppress enemy positions.

  • We need to coordinate our countermortar fire with air support.

  • The commanders ordered countermortar fire after detecting the enemy's mortar position.

  • Intelligence provided accurate coordinates for launching countermortar fire against hostile positions.

  • Our unit came under heavy countermortar fire while advancing across the field.

Synonyms

counterbattery fire
vscountermortar fire
  • Specialized
8.3

Fire from big guns aimed at enemy guns to destroy them

focuses narrowly on enemy short-range indirect weapons rather than all guns
counterbattery
vscountermortar fire
  • Specialized
9.0

Fire from guns aimed at enemy heavy guns to stop them

is limited to enemy short-range indirect weapons instead of broad gun positions
counterbombardment
vscountermortar fire
  • Specialized
9.9

An attack using heavy guns to destroy the enemy's weapons

is more specific focusing on short-range indirect weapons rather than broad heavy attacks
counterfire
vscountermortar fire
  • Specialized
8.0

Gunfire aimed to destroy enemy weapons or positions

is concentrated on short-range indirect weapons rather than general shooting positions

How Intense

bombardment
47 7.0
countermortar fire
  • Specialized
9.6
suppressive fire
  • Specialized
1 7.8
harassing fire
  • Specialized
9.3

Surface Forms

countermortor fire singular
countermortor fires plural

Morphology

countermortar + fire

The meaning can be compositionally inferred from 'counter-' (against/opposing) + 'mortar' (a type of artillery) and 'fire' (firing of weapons), so the phrase literally denotes firing aimed at enemy mortars. However, 'countermortar' is a specialized military compound not listed in the dictionary and the prefixal compounding may be less familiar to an average B1 learner, so understanding is partially predictable but depends on technical/military knowledge.

Etymology

Countermortar fire comes from a clear military image: mortar is a short gun that fires explosive bombs, fire means 'shooting', and counter means 'against'. So countermortar fire is shooting back at enemy mortars to destroy or stop them, which is why it means 'attacking enemy mortar positions'.