air raids
air raids
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "air raids" is /ˈɛər ˌreɪdz/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
Air
/ɛər/ - a diphthong (vowel sound that changes within the same syllable) followed by an 'r' sound.
Raids
/reɪdz/ - 'r' sound, followed by a diphthong, a 'd' sound, and a 'z' sound.
Word Form Variations
Singular: air raid
Plural: air raids
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A military attack carried out by aircraft, typically involving the dropping of bombs or firing of missiles on a target area on the ground.
Synonyms: aerial bombardment, airstrike, bombing raid, strafing run
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "defense" or "peace" are too broad)
Definition 2: The period or event during which such an attack takes place, often accompanied by air raid sirens and people seeking shelter.
Synonyms: attack, bombardment, assault, offensive
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "calm" or "truce" are too broad)
Examples of Use
Books: "The constant threat of air raids loomed over London during the Blitz, forcing families into underground shelters night after night." (From historical accounts of World War II)
Newspapers: "Civilians in Kharkiv have endured relentless air raids since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, leading to widespread destruction and displacement." (The Guardian, March 2022)
Online Publications: "Analysts are debating the effectiveness of the recent air raids on Houthi targets in Yemen, with some arguing they have done little to deter attacks on shipping." (Al Jazeera, January 2024)
Entertainment Mediums (Film): In the film Dunkirk, the sound of approaching German bombers signaled impending air raids, creating intense suspense as soldiers scrambled for cover.
Entertainment Platforms (Video Games): Players in the video game Call of Duty: WWII often experience simulated air raids as part of the gameplay, requiring them to take cover or engage in anti-aircraft defense.
General Public Discourse: "My grandmother often talks about her childhood memories of the Second World War, and how terrifying the air raids were, especially the sound of the sirens."
10 Famous Quotes Using Air Raids
"How frightened the women are during air raids; last Sunday, for instance, when 350 British planes dropped 550 tons of bombs on IJmuiden, so that the houses trembled like blades of grass in the wind." (Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl)
"The great defense against the air menace is to attack the enemy's aircraft as near as possible to their point of departure." (Winston Churchill, speech, November 24, 1917)
"These cruel, wanton, indiscriminate bombings of London are, of course, a part of Hitler's invasion plans. He hopes, by killing large numbers of civilians, and women and children, that he will terrorise and cow the people of this mighty imperial city, and make them a burden and an anxiety to the Government and thus distract our attention unduly from the ferocious onslaught he is preparing." (Winston Churchill, "Every Man to His Post" broadcast, September 11, 1940 - while not explicitly saying "air raids," it refers to "bombings of London" in the context of Nazi "air attack" and "air raid precautions services," which directly relate to the term.)
"At any moment a bomb may fall on this very room... The emotion of fear and of hate is therefore sterile, unfertile." (Virginia Woolf, "Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid," 1940)
"In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. 'How are we to live in an atomic age?' I am tempted to reply: Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis." (C.S. Lewis, while not explicitly using "air raids," the context of living under constant threat, similar to that of air raids, is clear.)
"The Spanish Civil War was the first fought in Europe in which civilians became targets en masse, through bombing raids on big cities." (Helen Graham, The Spanish Civil War: A Very Short Introduction, while using "bombing raids" rather than "air raids," the context is directly analogous.)
"We have now intensified for a month past our systematic, scientific, methodical bombing on a large scale of the German cities, seaports, industries and other military objectives." (Winston Churchill, referring to Allied "air raids" on Germany, March 14, 1933)
"My father used to tell me stories about the air raids in our village during the war, and how they would hide in the cellar."
"The city was rocked by continuous air raids for several nights, turning familiar streets into rubble."
"The children, accustomed to the sound of sirens, knew the drill for air raids instinctively, moving quickly to their designated shelters."
Etymology
The word "air raid" is a pretty straightforward combination of two older words: "air" and "raid."
Let's break it down:
Air: This part refers to "by aircraft." Think of it as meaning "from the sky" or "using flying machines."
Raid: This word has a longer history, going back to the early 15th century. It originally meant a "mounted military expedition" – basically, a quick journey on horseback to attack or plunder. Over time, its meaning broadened to mean any sudden, quick attack or incursion. You still hear "police raid" or "raid on a supply depot."
So, when you put them together, "air raid" literally means an "attack carried out by aircraft."
The first known use of "air raid" in print dates back to 1914, right around the start of World War I. This makes sense because that's when aircraft began to be widely used for military attacks from the sky, especially for bombing ground targets. Before this, while there were some earlier instances of objects being dropped from balloons or early aircraft, the concept of a coordinated "raid" from the air became a distinct military action during this period. The term quickly became common to describe these new types of aerial attacks.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Air Raids
Air raid siren: The distinctive wailing sound signaling an impending or ongoing air raid.
Air raid shelter: A protected place, often underground, designed to keep people safe during an air raid.
Air raid precautions (ARP): Measures taken by civilians and authorities to prepare for and minimize the effects of air raids, common during World War II.
Under air raid conditions: Operating or living in a state where air raids are a threat or occurring.
To take cover from an air raid: To seek shelter to protect oneself from an aerial attack.
Like an air raid: (Informal, original) Used to describe a sudden, intense, and often disruptive arrival or activity. (e.g., "The kids burst into the kitchen like an air raid.")
Sounding the air raid alarm: (Original) Figuratively, to warn of impending trouble or a crisis, similar to a literal air raid siren.
Bombing run: (Using a synonym for similar effect) A specific pass made by an aircraft over a target to drop bombs.
Under aerial bombardment: (Using a synonym for similar effect) Experiencing continuous attacks from aircraft.
A blitz of activity: (Using a related concept for similar effect) A sudden, intense, and concentrated period of action, reminiscent of the "Blitz" (the German air raids on Britain).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of air raids from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
