German word

Beschuss

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈʃʊs/

Meaning

  • masculine nounshelling

Example

Der Beschuss begann in der Nacht.

The shelling began during the night.

Illustration for Beschuss (shelling)

More examples

Die Zivilisten suchten Schutz, als die Stadt unter Beschuss stand.

The civilians sought shelter when the city came under shelling.

Core concept

A target sits under a sustained stream of shots, or under a concentrated barrage of hostile words.

Common phrases

  • unter Beschuss stehen

    be under shelling

  • massiver Beschuss

    heavy shelling

  • ein plötzlicher Beschuss

    a sudden bout of shelling

Similar words

Angriff: An aggressive action using force or military strength against an opponent.
Feuer: Continuous gunfire directed at a target.
Bombardierung: A large-scale attack using bombs or shells dropped or fired from aircraft or guns.
Kritik: Strong disapproval that points out faults in a person or policy.

Definition in German

Beschuss bezeichnet das gezielte Beschießen eines Ziels durch Artillerie oder Schusswaffen und kann auch im übertragenen Sinn für heftige Kritik stehen.

Word origin

The noun Beschuss comes from the verb beschießen, formed with be- and schießen, and names directed shooting at a target.

Usage tips

  • In unter Beschuss stehen, unter takes the dative because the phrase describes a state; in unter Beschuss geraten, it takes the accusative because it describes entry into that state.

Other meanings

  • gunfirenoun
  • firenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word