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Glite Dictionary
gasoline bomb

gasoline bomb

1 7.4
A simple weapon that uses a bottle of gasoline and a cloth wick to start fires
  • noun
  • /ˈɡæsəˌliːn bɑm/
  • NSFW
translation icon : bomba de gasolina
  • throwing gasoline bombs
  • hurling gasoline bombs
  • use gasoline bombs

Examples

  • As a last terrorist act, a pair of gasoline bombs planted in Harris' Honda and Klebold's BMW had been rigged apparently to kill police, rescue teams, journalists, and parents who rushed to the school.

    Blog text (31)

  • The angry protesters resorted to throwing gasoline bombs at the police during the demonstration.

  • After the building was set ablaze, it was confirmed that gasoline bombs were used in the attack.

  • Police reported that a group of individuals was arrested for throwing gasoline bombs at vehicles.

Synonyms

Molotov cocktail
vsgasoline bomb
  • Offensive
9 8.1

A bottle filled with liquid and a rag people light and throw to start fires

is the same crude bottle weapon described with a simple term
incendiary device
vsgasoline bomb
  • Specialized
6 7.3

A weapon made to start fires using chemicals

is the bottle style weapon specifically made from a bottle and wick
petrol bomb
vsgasoline bomb
  • NSFW
1 7.1

A bottle filled with petrol and a burning rag, thrown to start a fire

is the same device but expressed in another regional or common name
incendiary bomb
vsgasoline bomb
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A bomb that starts fires to burn buildings or fuel

is the bottle made version rather than any bomb type
incendiary
vsgasoline bomb
  • Specialized
1 8.5

A device made to start fires in buildings or fuel stores

is the crude bottle form with a rag wick rather than any fire device

How Dangerous

improvised explosive device
  • Offensive
7 5.6
grenade
170 4.4
incendiary device
  • Specialized
6 7.3
gasoline bomb
  • NSFW
1 7.4

Surface Forms

gasoline bomb singular
gasoline bombs plural

Morphology

gasoline + bomb

The meaning — a bomb that uses gasoline as its fuel or explosive/incendiary component — is directly derivable from combining 'gasoline' (a flammable liquid) with 'bomb' (an explosive device). This noun–noun compound follows a common compositional pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words will generally understand the concept even if they don't infer technical details about construction or ignition.

Etymology

Gasoline bomb comes from the real object: a bottle filled with gasoline and a rag that is set on fire and thrown like a crude bomb, so it breaks and starts a fire. That's why the term means 'a weapon used to start a fire'.