guerrilla

guerrilla

a member of an irregular military force: They used guerrilla tactics to overthrow the city.

Not to be confused with:

gorilla – an ape: It was the second time the gorilla escaped from the zoo.

Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

guer·ril·la

or gue·ril·la  (gə-rĭl′ə)

n.

A member of an irregular, usually indigenous military or paramilitary force operating in small bands in occupied territory to harass and undermine the enemy, as by surprise raids.

adj.

1. Of or relating to guerrillas or their tactics.

2. Using unconventional and usually inexpensive means to generate interest or raise concern among the public, as in commercial marketing or social activism.

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[Spanish, raiding party, guerrilla force, diminutive of guerra, war, of Germanic origin; see wers- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

guerrilla

(ɡəˈrɪlə) or

guerilla

n

1. (Military)

a. a member of an irregular usually politically motivated armed force that combats stronger regular forces, such as the army or police

b. (as modifier): guerrilla warfare.

2. (Botany) a form of vegetative spread in which the advance is from several individual rhizomes or stolons growing rapidly away from the centre, as in some clovers. Compare phalanx

[C19: from Spanish, diminutive of guerra war]

guerˈrillaism, gueˈrillaism n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

guer•ril•la

or gue•ril•la

(gəˈrɪl ə)

n., pl. -las.

a member of a band of irregular soldiers engaged in guerrilla warfare.

[1800–10; < Sp, diminutive of guerra war (< Germanic; compare war¹)]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

guerrilla

, gorilla - Guerrilla is from a Spanish diminutive of guerra, "war," and refers to a soldier of an independent armed resistance force; gorilla is the ape.

See also related terms for soldier.

Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

guerrilla

A combat participant in guerrilla warfare. See also unconventional warfare.

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

guerrilla - a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment guerilla, irregular, insurgent guerilla force, guerrilla force - an irregular armed force that fights by sabotage and harassment; often rural and organized in large groups Maquis, Maquisard - a guerrilla fighter in the French underground in World War II urban guerrilla - a guerrilla who fights only in cities and towns warrior - someone engaged in or experienced in warfare

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

guerrilla

noun freedom fighter, partisan, irregular, underground fighter, member of the underground or resistance The guerrillas threatened to kill their hostages.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

αντάρτης

partisaanisissisissisota

guérilla

guerrigliero

gverilec

guerrilla

[gəˈrɪlə]

A. N → guerrillero/a m/f
urban guerrilla → guerrillero/a m/f urbano/a

B. CPD guerrilla band N → guerrilla f
guerrilla warfare N → guerra f de guerrillas

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

guerrilla

[gəˈrɪlə] n → guérillero m guerrilla group, guerrilla leader, guerrilla warguerrilla group n → guérilla fguerrilla leader n → chef m de la guérillaguerrilla war n → guérilla fguerrilla warfare n → guérilla f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

guerrilla

[gəˈrɪlə] n → guerrigliero/a
guerrilla group → gruppo di guerriglieri
guerrilla tactics → tattica di guerriglia

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995