airburst: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Military / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “airburst” mean?
An explosion that occurs in the air, above the ground.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An explosion that occurs in the air, above the ground.
A detonation, typically of a bomb, missile, or explosive projectile, deliberately designed or occurring at a point in the air to maximize destructive effect over a wide area or against a specific target.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. The term is used identically in both technical registers.
Connotations
Primarily associated with military ordnance and meteoritic events in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, confined to specialist contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “airburst” in a Sentence
The [munition] was programmed for an airburst.The [meteor] caused a brilliant airburst.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “airburst” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The new artillery shells are designed to air-burst over enemy trenches.
American English
- The warhead will air-burst at 500 meters for maximum shrapnel spread.
adjective
British English
- The airburst capability of the missile makes it ideal for anti-personnel use.
American English
- They deployed airburst rounds for the grenade launcher.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in military history, planetary science, and physics papers discussing explosive effects.
Everyday
Very rare; might be used in news reports about meteor events or specific military actions.
Technical
Standard term in military science, ballistics, and meteor astronomy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “airburst”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “airburst”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “airburst”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'The bomb will airburst'). The verb form is 'air-burst' (hyphenated).
- Confusing with 'airbrush'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency technical term used primarily in military, scientific, and historical contexts.
Yes, but the verb form is typically hyphenated: 'to air-burst'. It means to detonate (something) in the air.
An airburst explodes at a height above the ground, maximizing blast and thermal effects over a wide area. A ground burst explodes on impact, creating more localized cratering and ground shock, but also large amounts of radioactive fallout in the case of nuclear weapons.
Yes, the atomic bomb 'Little Boy' was detonated as an airburst approximately 600 meters above Hiroshima to maximize the destructive effect of the blast wave and thermal radiation.
An explosion that occurs in the air, above the ground.
Airburst is usually technical / military / scientific in register.
Airburst: in British English it is pronounced /ˈeə.bɜːst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈer.bɝːst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BURST of fire and sound in the AIR.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FLOWER OF DESTRUCTION BLOOMING IN THE SKY.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'airburst' LEAST likely to be used?