English Meaning & Definitions
A continuous and prolonged discharge of weapons, maintained over a significant period rather than in short, sporadic bursts.
- “The infantry unit provided sustained fire to cover their comrades as they retreated across the open field.”
- “The machine gun was designed specifically for sustained fire during defensive operations.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “sustained fire”.
The term combines 'sustained' (from the Old French 'sustenir', meaning to hold up or keep in existence) and 'fire' (from the Old English 'fȳr'). In a military context, it emerged during the industrialization of warfare to describe the ability of a weapon or unit to maintain a continuous rate of discharge over an extended period without interruption.
Think of a 'sustained' note in music that never stops, combined with 'fire'—a constant, non-stop barrage of bullets.
Frequently Asked Questions About “sustained fire”
1. What is the meaning of “sustained fire” in English?
In English, sustained fire (noun) is defined as: “A continuous and prolonged discharge of weapons, maintained over a significant period rather than in short, sporadic bursts.”.
2. How do you use “sustained fire” in a sentence?
“The infantry unit provided sustained fire to cover their comrades as they retreated across the open field.”
3. What are English synonyms of “sustained fire”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “sustained fire”?
The term combines 'sustained' (from the Old French 'sustenir', meaning to hold up or keep in existence) and 'fire' (from the Old English 'fȳr'). In a military context, it emerged during the industrialization of warfare to describe the ability of a weapon or unit to maintain a continuous rate of discharge over an extended period without interruption.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.