noun

salvo

SAL-voh

noun

A number of guns fired together or in quick succession, or a burst of applause, criticism, or argument delivered all at once.

"The ship fired a salvo at the enemy vessel."

"Her opening salvo in the debate caught her opponent off guard."

How to Use Salvo

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA simultaneous burst of gunfire, or, figuratively, a forceful opening statement in an argument.

Common pairings

opening salvo fire a salvo

salvoed past tense, salvos plural, salvoes plural, salvoes plural, salvos plural, Salvos plural, salvos singular

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The ship fired a _____ at the enemy vessel.

From Latin salvo, as in the phrase salvo jure, "the right being reserved" — later reinterpreted in English as referring to a burst of gunfire.