ammo

/ˈæmoʊ/

/ˈæməʊ/

Other forms: ammos

Ammo is a shorthand way to say "ammunition," meaning bullets, gunpowder, and other combat supplies. A war movie might include a scene of soldiers running low on ammo.

Ammo generally refers to a supply of the actual munitions, or exploding substances and projectiles that are put in guns, cannons, and other weapons. A gun without ammo won't actually shoot. This colloquial form of ammunition was first used around 1917, and both are rooted in the Middle French phrase la munition, "fortification" or "defense."

Definitions of ammo

1. noun

   projectiles to be fired from a gun
   synonyms: ammunition

   types:

   belt, belt ammunition, belted ammunition

   ammunition (usually of small caliber) loaded in flexible linked strips for use in a machine gun

   cartridge

   ammunition consisting of a cylindrical casing containing an explosive charge and a bullet; fired from a rifle or handgun

   canister, canister shot, case shot

   a metallic cylinder packed with shot and used as ammunition in a firearm

   powder and shot

   ammunition consisting of gunpowder and bullets for muskets

   one shot, round, unit of ammunition

   a charge of ammunition for a single shot

   shell

   ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun

   tracer, tracer bullet

   ammunition whose flight can be observed by a trail of smoke

   artillery shell

   a shell fired by artillery

   ball cartridge

   a general purpose cartridge having a primer and a ball and a full charge of powder

   blank, blank shell, dummy

   a cartridge containing an explosive charge but no bullet

   cartouch, cartouche

   a cartridge (usually with paper casing)

   shotgun shell

   a shell containing lead shot; used in shotguns

   shrapnel

   shell containing lead pellets that explodes in flight

   tank shell

   a shell fired by the cannon on a tank

   whizbang, whizbang shell, whizzbang

   a small high-velocity shell; it makes a whizzing sound followed by a bang when it hits

   type of:

   arms, implements of war, munition, weaponry, weapons system

   weapons considered collectively