WordGarden.ioshellfire
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʃˈɛlfaɪə/
US
- /ʃˈɛlfaɪər/
Meanings
Noun
the firing of artillery shells, or the shells exploding in attack
Beyond the definition
Imagine a battlefield filled with the roar of big guns and the crash of shells landing nearby. That's shellfire: artillery shells being fired at a place, often in large numbers during a battle. The word is used in war stories, history, and reports about combat. It usually suggests a dangerous barrage rather than one isolated shot. You might read that soldiers advanced under heavy shellfire or that a town came under shellfire during an attack.
Shellfire refers to fire from artillery shells, usually from guns such as cannons, howitzers, or sometimes mortars, directed at a target during fighting. The word often points to a barrage or repeated shelling, but it can also be used more generally for shells bursting around soldiers, vehicles, or buildings in a combat area. It is strongly tied to war and is common in military history, journalism, and fiction.
The term brings to mind scenes from major wars, especially battles in which troops had to move, hide, or survive under incoming shells. A report might say a village was hit by shellfire, a trench was pounded by shellfire, or troops were pinned down by shellfire. In these cases, the focus is on the danger and damage caused by exploding shells, not on small-arms fire such as rifles or pistols.
You will most often see it in phrases like "under shellfire" or "heavy shellfire." It is rarely used outside contexts involving battle, armed conflict, or historical accounts of war. In short, it means the attack or presence of exploding artillery shells, especially when they are falling on an area as part of a battle.
Examples
- 1
Wartime attack
The town spent the night under heavy shellfire.
- Patternunder shellfire
while shells were being fired at it
- 2
Civilian casualties
Several civilians were killed by shellfire as they tried to leave the city.
- 3
Convoy attack
The convoy turned back after coming under shellfire near the bridge.
- Patterncome under shellfire
begin to be attacked with shells
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- shellfirenoun