Dictionary

Grad en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɡɹæd/ (US)
• /ˈɡɹɑd/ (US)

Etymology

From Russian Град (Grad, “codename for a type of multiple rocket launcher”), from Russian град (grad, “hail”).

Meanings

1. A type of Soviet artillery multiple rocket launcher, or a rocket fired by this.
   • The MRL systems Smerch, Uragan, and Grad are designed to destroy concentrations of personnel and various vehicles at distances up to 70 kilometers. 1998, Field Artillery Association (U.S.), Field Artillery, page 7:
   • The Russians fought back with Grad rocket-launcher salvos and mortar attacks (they also made some use of armor). 2001, Olga Oliker, Russia’s Chechen Wars 1994-2000: Lessons from Urban Combat, Santa Monica, California: Rand, page 29:
   • It supplements the 220 mm BM-22 Uragan (‘Hurricane’) and 122 mm BM-21 Grad (‘Hail’) MRLs, already in service. 1989, Jane’s Defence Weekly, volume 12, Coulsdon, UK: Jane’s, page 1050:
   • “[w]e saw Hamas come and put up rocket launchers and fire. We could tell they were Grads by the sound, which is louder and deeper than that of Qassams.” 2009, Rockets from Gaza: Harm to Civilians from Palestinian Armed Groups’ Rocket Attacks, New York: Human Rights Watch, page 22:

Forms

Synonyms

BM-21 · Katyusha

Translations (7)

pl grad (rocket launcher) · bg Град (rocket launcher) · ru Град (rocket launcher) · ja グラート (rocket launcher) · az Qrad (rocket launcher) · be Град (rocket launcher) · uk Град (rocket launcher)