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Definition of small arms in English:

small arms

Pronunciation /ˈˌsmôl ˈärmz/ /ˈˌsmɔl ˈɑrmz/

Translate small arms into Spanish

plural noun

  • Portable firearms, especially rifles, pistols, and light machine guns.

    ‘The enemy met descending paratroopers with heavy small arms and machinegun fire.’
    • ‘One army patrol opened fire with small arms and machine guns, forcing the rebels to flee toward the second.’
    • ‘He then dashed through a hail of small arms and exploding hand grenades to abort a breach of the main gate.’
    • ‘It will address the increasing threat to human security from the spread of small arms, light weapons and their illegal trade.’
    • ‘The campaign aims to raise awareness that there are currently around 639 million small arms and light weapons in the world today.’
    • ‘This specialisation included small arms and light weapons, armoured vehicles, and electronics.’
    • ‘The Russian armies, like all the others, rapidly ran out of ammunition - and not only ammunition but guns and even small arms.’
    • ‘The illegal trade in small arms and light weapons has been identified by the UN as one of the world's greatest challenges.’
    • ‘Warfare is the next step with the powers of hot gas being harnessed to fire projectiles from cannons or small arms.’
    • ‘Rosenthal will show the latest in rifles, small arms and ammunition and there will even be an exhibition of live stud animals.’
    • ‘He said that there had been no discernible decline in sporadic artillery shelling or small arms fire.’
    • ‘These small arms also hindered the fast clearing of fields of fire in thick vegetation.’
    • ‘They were well equipped with Russian small arms, artillery, armor, and fighter planes.’
    • ‘We were also under heavy fire from mortars and small arms.’
    • ‘The passenger acts as the shooter and has used weapons such as grenades, RPGs and small arms.’
    • ‘At first, it was just small arms but the big guns and mortars started shooting as the afternoon wore on.’
    • ‘I examined the assortment of small arms, grenades and bayonets used in hand-to-hand encounters.’
    • ‘Helicopter crews drew almost continuous fire from small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.’
    • ‘Insurgents opened fire from all around with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.’
    • ‘They were equipped with only small arms; no match for the convoy's recoiless rifle and heavy machine guns.’