Dictionary

flamethrower en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈfleɪmˌθɹoʊ.ɚ/ (US)
• (US) audio
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈfleɪmˌθɹəʊ.ə/ (UK)

Etymology

From flame + thrower, calque of German Flammenwerfer.

Meanings

1. A device that projects a flame for starting fires, and sometimes also additional fuel to help ignition. Used either as a weapon or a tool.
2. (slang) Someone who is extremely good at throwing or shooting balls.
   • "We allowed him to kind of orchestrate the whole offense, and he got comfortable early," George said. "He's a flamethrower. Once he gets hot, it's over." 2017 April 11, “Mike Conley Rewards Grizzlies' Faith With a Career Season”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Jan 2018:
   • Unlike steroids, these supposedly illegal substances were not used in secret. There was an understanding that it was in everyone's best interest — pitchers and hitters alike — for today's flamethrowers to have a good grip on the ball. 2021 June 15, Jesse Campigotto, “Baseball has a sticky situation on its hands”, in CBC News, archived from the original on 04 Jul 2023:
   • So when we see guys like that open, we gotta give them the ball. Especially Bryn [Forbes], he's a flamethrower. The guy is one of the best shooters I've been around, so to have him going in the game, it's much needed for us. We need him to get going. We need him to hit shots. 2021 June 15, Eric Nehm, quoting Khris Middleton, “How Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton manipulated the Nets' defense in Game 4”, in The Athletic, archived from the original on 04 Jul 2023:

Forms

Translations (69)

fi liekinheitin (device that projects a flame) · id pelontar api (device that projects a flame) · bg огнехвърга́чка (device that projects a flame) · ru огнемёт (device that projects a flame) · ga teilgeoir lasrach (device that projects a flame) · es lanzallamas (device that projects a flame) · co zirlafiare (device that projects a flame) · sv eldspruta (device that projects a flame) · pt lança-chamas (device that projects a flame) · oc lança-eslamas (device that projects a flame) · nl vlammenwerper (device that projects a flame) · hsb wohnjomjetak (device that projects a flame) · ja 火炎放射器 (device that projects a flame) · ro aruncător de flăcări (device that projects a flame) · lt liepsnosvaidis (device that projects a flame) · de Flammenwerfer (device that projects a flame) · hsb płomjenjomjetadło (device that projects a flame) · gl lanzachamas (device that projects a flame) · sh пламенобацач (device that projects a flame) · pl miotacz ognia (device that projects a flame) · tr alev makinesi (device that projects a flame) · is eldvarpa (device that projects a flame) · ia lanceaflammas (device that projects a flame) · kk отшашар (device that projects a flame) · he לַהַבְיוֹר (device that projects a flame) · cmn 噴火器 /喷火器 (device that projects a flame) · rm bittaflommas (device that projects a flame) · af vlamwerper (device that projects a flame) · uk вогнеме́т (device that projects a flame) · et leegiheitja (device that projects a flame) · tg оташандоз (device that projects a flame) · pl miotacz płomieni (device that projects a flame) · alt от чачар мылтык (device that projects a flame) · kmr agiravêj (device that projects a flame) · ka ცეცხლსატყორცნი (device that projects a flame) · sv eldkastare (device that projects a flame) · ta தழல் வீசி (device that projects a flame) · es lanzaflamas (device that projects a flame) · uz oʻtsochar (device that projects a flame) · cmn 火焰噴射器 /火焰喷射器 (device that projects a flame) · fa شعلهافکن (device that projects a flame) · mk пламенофр́лач (device that projects a flame) · sh бацач пламена (device that projects a flame) · nrf lanche-fliambes (device that projects a flame) · cs plamenomet (device that projects a flame) · hsb wohnjomjet (device that projects a flame) · ca llançaflames (device that projects a flame) · oc lançaflamas (device that projects a flame) · oc lançahuec (device that projects a flame) · eu su-jaurtigailu (device that projects a flame) · lv liesmu metējs (device that projects a flame) · hy հրանետ (device that projects a flame) · vi súng phun lửa (device that projects a flame) · eo flamĵetilo (device that projects a flame) · fr lance-flamme (device that projects a flame) · sl plamenomet (device that projects a flame) · sh plamenobacač (device that projects a flame) · be агнямёт (device that projects a flame) · ar قَاذِفَة لَهَب (device that projects a flame) · nb flammekaster (device that projects a flame) · da flammekaster (device that projects a flame) · az odsaçan (device that projects a flame) · sk plameňomet (device that projects a flame) · ko 화염방사기 (device that projects a flame) · sh bacač plamena (device that projects a flame) · it lanciafiamme (device that projects a flame) · hu lángszóró (device that projects a flame) · dsb wognjochytak (device that projects a flame) · el φλογοβόλο (device that projects a flame)