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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Weapon Definition, Examples & Figurative Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：fighting tool (weapon)

weapon 🔊

/ˈwɛp.ən/

An object used to fight, hurt someone, or protect yourself in a conflict.

Weapon examples: knife, gun, bat, stun gun on grey background

fighting tool 🔊

➕

/ˈfaɪtɪŋ tuːl/

A physical object used to harm or defend in combat, such as a knife, gun, or club.

📁 Category：Warfare & Battle 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English wǣpen, from Proto-Germanic *wēpną.

💡 Mnemonic

Think: 'Weapon' sounds like 'way-pawn'—a way to pawn off your opponent's attack.

📖 Example

During the police training, the officer demonstrated how to safely handle a sharp-edged weapon like a knife. 🔊 During the police training, the officer demonstrated how to safely handle a sharp-edged weapon like a knife.

🔗 Collocations

carry a weapon – to bring a weapon with you

deadly weapon – a weapon capable of causing death

weapon of choice – the weapon preferred by someone

🔄 Synonyms

arm (n.) – a weapon, especially a firearm

tool (n.) – a device used to carry out a function, often used metaphorically but can refer to weapons

implement (n.) – a tool or instrument, especially for a specific purpose

🚫 Antonyms

shield (n.) – a protective device, the opposite of an offensive weapon

🌱 Derivatives

weaponize (v.) – to turn something into a weapon

weaponry (n.) – weapons collectively

weaponless (adj.) – having no weapons

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'weapon' traces back to Proto-Germanic *wēpną, and is related to Old Norse vápn and Gothic wēpn. In modern English, it often appears in legal and military contexts, and metaphorically in discussions of strategy.

Meaning 2：a means to gain advantage (weapon)

weapon 🔊

/ˈwɛp.ən/

Anything used to gain an advantage or win a fight in an argument, competition, or conflict.

Figurative weapon: debate podium and laptop with charts

a means to gain advantage 🔊

➕

/ə miːnz tuː ɡeɪn ædˈvæntɪdʒ/

Figuratively, a weapon can be any strategy, skill, or resource used to gain an upper hand in a competition or argument.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

In the debate competition, a sharp sense of humor can be a powerful weapon to win over the audience. 🔊 In the debate competition, a sharp sense of humor can be a powerful weapon to win over the audience.

🔗 Collocations

use something as a weapon – to employ something to attack or defend in a non-physical sense

powerful weapon – a highly effective means of achieving an advantage

turn into a weapon – to repurpose something as a tool for gaining advantage

🔄 Synonyms

tool (n.) – a thing used to achieve a purpose, similar to weapon in metaphorical sense

asset (n.) – a useful or valuable thing, often used as an advantage

lever (n.) – a means of exerting pressure or influence

🚫 Antonyms

liability (n.) – a disadvantage or burden, opposite of a weapon used for advantage