War: English Vocabulary List

a short weapon with a pointed blade

"He carried a dagger."

"The historical reenactment featured a replica dagger used by ancient warriors in combat."

a component of ammunition that is loaded into a firearm, including a casing or a hull, gunpowder, a primer, and a projectile

"The shell held gunpowder and bullet."

"The spent shell casing ejected from the rifle after the shot was fired successfully."

a piece of military equipment that is put on or just under the ground or in the sea, which explodes when it is touched

"The mine exploded when touched."

"The soldiers carefully searched the beach for any hidden explosive mine."

a mid-ranking officer in the armed forces, responsible for commanding troops and assisting superior officers

"The lieutenant gave clear orders to the soldiers before the mission began."

"The young lieutenant was promoted quickly because of his excellent leadership during the crisis."

a long narrow hole dug in the ground in which soldiers move and are protected from enemy fire

"The soldiers dug a deep trench to protect themselves from enemy fire."

"Heavy rain flooded the trench and made it nearly impossible for soldiers to move."

to give up resistance or stop fighting against an enemy or opponent

"The army surrendered to the enemy."

"The enemy general finally agreed to surrender his troops after a long siege left his army with no food or ammunition remaining."

to position soldiers or equipment for military action

"The general deployed thousands of troops."

"The general ordered his troops to deploy along the border to prevent any further incursions by the hostile neighboring country's military forces."

to secure a place and make it resistant against attacks, particularly by building walls around it

"They fortify the castle walls."

"The soldiers worked through the night to fortify their position by building sandbag walls and digging deep trenches around the camp."

a violent confrontation or battle between opposing military forces

"There was a violent clash between police and protesters in the square."

"The two armies engaged in a fierce clash on the battlefield, with heavy casualties on both sides."

to push away or cause something or someone to retreat or withdraw

"The army repelled the enemy attack."

"The small army managed to repel the much larger invading force by using the mountainous terrain to their advantage during the battle."

to recruit or engage an individual for service in the military

"He enlisted in the army at eighteen."

"At the age of eighteen he decided to enlist in the army because he wanted to serve his country and see the world."

a weapon or tool used for fighting or hunting

"The bow was a hunting arm."

"The soldier carried a powerful arm to defend their country from invaders."

to bring something or someone under control, often using authority or force

"The police subdued the violent suspect."

"The police officers used non lethal force to subdue the aggressive man who was threatening bystanders with a broken bottle in the park."