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powder store

powder store

8.4
A locked room on a ship where weapons like guns and bullets are kept
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : almacén de pólvora
  • During the battle, the enemy targeted our powder store to prevent us from resupplying.

Examples

  • "And those troops will be marching straight for our powder stores in Worcester," Ethan added.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The ship's powder store was carefully secured to ensure safety during the journey.

  • The soldiers took great care to protect the powder store from enemy attacks.

Synonyms

armory
vspowder store
  • US
43 5.4

A building where weapons and ammunition are kept and sometimes made

is limited to storage on ships not manufacturing or training roles
arsenal
vspowder store
29 5.9

A place where weapons and military equipment are made and kept

is narrower meaning ship storage rather than large scale production or maintenance
magazine
vspowder store
  • Specialized
6 7.4

A secure place on a ship or base where weapons and ammunition are kept

is focused on ship storage specifically for weapons and ammunition
powder magazine
vspowder store
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A place where people store gunpowder and other explosives

is used for keeping weapons and ammunition on ships generally
ordnance store
vspowder store
  • Specialized
8.6

A place where the military keeps and gives out weapons and ammunition

is mainly for ship storage rather than broad supply or maintenance

How Hazardous

powder store
  • UK
8.4
magazine
  • Specialized
6 7.4
armory
  • US
43 5.4
storage room
29 1.6

Surface Forms

powder store singular
powder stores plural

Morphology

powder + store

The meaning is directly compositional: 'powder' (gunpowder/ammunition) + 'store' (place for keeping goods) yields a place where powder is stored. This straightforward noun–noun compounding follows common patterns (and equivalents exist in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Powder store comes from old warships and forts where powder, or gunpowder, was kept in a locked store room because a fire there could cause a terrible explosion. That's why powder store means 'a place where weapons and ammunition are kept'.