TRIP WIRE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does trip wire mean? 

• TRIP WIRE (noun)
  The noun TRIP WIRE has 2 senses:

1. a small military force that serves as a first line of defense; if they become engaged in hostilities it will trigger the intervention of stronger military forces

2. a wire stretched close to the ground that activates something (a trap or camera or weapon) when tripped over

  Familiarity information: TRIP WIRE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TRIP WIRE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A small military force that serves as a first line of defense; if they become engaged in hostilities it will trigger the intervention of stronger military forces

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("trip wire" is a kind of...):

force; military force; military group; military unit (a unit that is part of some military service)

Domain category:

armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A wire stretched close to the ground that activates something (a trap or camera or weapon) when tripped over

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("trip wire" is a kind of...):

wire (ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc)