skip bombing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical, historical, formal
Quick answer
What does “skip bombing” mean?
A low-altitude aerial bombing technique where bombs are released to skip or bounce on the surface before impacting the target.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A low-altitude aerial bombing technique where bombs are released to skip or bounce on the surface before impacting the target.
Refers to the execution of such attacks, the bombs designed for this purpose, or historical military operations involving this tactic, notably in World War II.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning; term is used identically in both varieties due to its technical and historical nature.
Connotations
Neutral in both, referring solely to a military tactic without additional connotations.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, found primarily in historical, military, or aviation contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “skip bombing” in a Sentence
the skip bombing of [target]to engage in skip bombingskip bombing against [enemy]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “skip bombing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The pilots were trained to skip-bomb enemy ships.
- They decided to skip bomb the dam at low altitude.
American English
- The squadron practiced skip bombing on the lake.
- To effectively skip-bomb, you need precise timing.
adverb
British English
- The bombs were dropped in a skip-bombing manner, though adverbial usage is non-standard.
- Rarely used; typically not an adverb.
American English
- Similar to British; adverb form is uncommon.
- No standard adverbial usage.
adjective
British English
- The skip-bombing raid was successful.
- They used skip-bombing techniques in the mission.
American English
- The skip bombing attack caused significant damage.
- He studied skip-bombing tactics in history class.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable; no common usage in business contexts.
Academic
Used in military history, aviation studies, and historical analyses of WWII.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only in discussions about history or military tactics.
Technical
Common in technical descriptions of aerial warfare tactics, especially from WWII.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “skip bombing”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “skip bombing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “skip bombing”
- Using 'skip bombing' to mean avoiding bombing; it specifically refers to the technique.
- Confusing it with other low-altitude bombing methods without the skipping aspect.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Skip bombing is a military aviation tactic where bombs are released at low altitude to skip or bounce on surfaces like water before hitting targets, used notably in World War II.
Skip bombing was prominently used during World War II, especially in naval and dam-busting operations.
With advancements in precision-guided munitions, skip bombing is largely obsolete and of historical interest, though similar concepts might exist in modern warfare.
Unlike high-altitude or dive bombing, skip bombing relies on the bomb skipping on the surface to reach targets, allowing for low-altitude approaches to avoid anti-aircraft fire.
A low-altitude aerial bombing technique where bombs are released to skip or bounce on the surface before impacting the target.
Skip bombing is usually technical, historical, formal in register.
Skip bombing: in British English it is pronounced /skɪp ˈbɒmɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /skɪp ˈbɑːmɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of skipping a stone on water; similarly, skip bombing involves bombs skipping on surfaces to hit targets.
Conceptual Metaphor
Attack as a glancing blow; using momentum and angle to achieve impact.
Practice
Quiz
What is skip bombing primarily associated with?