depth charge

noun

Updated on: 8 Dec 2017

Definition of depth charge

: an antisubmarine weapon that consists essentially of a drum filled with explosives which is dropped near a target and descends to a predetermined depth where it explodes — called also depth bomb

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Recent Examples of depth charge from the Web

The sub was pinned in close to shore as destroyers and other ships dropped depth charges.

— peter eisner, Smithsonian, "Without Chick Parsons, General MacArthur May Never Have Made His Famed Return to the Philippines," 29 Sep. 2017
But Strong is content to walk us through the paces of Salinger’s troubled ascendancy without igniting any depth charges.

— peter rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, "J.D. Salinger biopic 'Rebel in the Rye' falls back on banalities," 8 Sep. 2017
Unable to make contact with Moscow for several days, Savitsky had not been notified of the United States’ intent to employ practice depth charges as part of its Cuban blockade.

— yasmeen serhan, The Atlantic, "When the World Lucked Out of a Nuclear War," 31 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'depth charge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.