noun
- a small shell containing an explosive and thrown by hand or fired from a rifle or launching device.
- a similar missile containing a chemical, as for dispersing tear gas or fire-extinguishing substances.
verb (used with object), gre·nad·ed, gre·nad·ing.
- to attack with a grenade or grenades.
noun
- a small container filled with explosive thrown by hand or fired from a rifle
- a sealed glass vessel that is thrown and shatters to release chemicals, such as tear gas or a fire extinguishing agent
“small explosive shell,” 1590s, earlier “pomegranate” (1520s), from Middle French grenade “pomegranate” (16c.), earlier grenate (12c.), from Old French pomegrenate (influenced by Spanish granada); so called because the many-seeded fruit suggested the powder-filled, fragmenting bomb, or from similarities of shape. See pomegranate.