ambush
Use Ambush in a sentence
bʊʃ noun Also, am·bush·ment.
1.
an act or instance of lying concealed so as to attack by surprise: The highwaymen waited in ambush near the road.
2.
an act or instance of attacking unexpectedly from a concealed position.
3.
the concealed position itself: They fired from ambush.
4.
those who attack suddenly and unexpectedly from a concealed position.
verb (used with object)
5.
to attack from ambush.
00:10
Ambush
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is kibitz. Does it mean:
| chat, to converse |
| to bark; yelp. |
Origin:
1250–1300; (v.) Middle English enbuss(h)en < Middle French embuschier to place men in ambush, literally, to set in the woods, equivalent to em- im-1 + busch- (< Vulgar Latin *busca wood, forest < Germanic *busk- heavy stick) + -ier infinitive suffix; (noun) earlier enbusshe < Middle French embusche, derivative of the v.
1250–1300; (v.) Middle English enbuss(h)en < Middle French embuschier to place men in ambush, literally, to set in the woods, equivalent to em- im-1 + busch- (< Vulgar Latin *busca wood, forest < Germanic *busk- heavy stick) + -ier infinitive suffix; (noun) earlier enbusshe < Middle French embusche, derivative of the v.
Related forms
am·bush·er, noun
am·bush·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To ambush
Collins
World English Dictionary
ambush (ˈæmbʊʃ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | the act of waiting in a concealed position in order to launch a surprise attack |
| 2. | a surprise attack from such a position |
| 3. | the concealed position from which such an attack is launched |
| 4. | the person or persons waiting to launch such an attack |
| —vb | |
| 5. | to lie in wait (for) |
| 6. | (tr) to attack suddenly from a concealed position |
| [C14: from Old French embuschier to position in ambush, from em- | |
| ambusher | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
ambush
c.1300, from O.Fr. embuscher (13c., Mod.Fr. embûcher) "to lay an ambush," from en- "in" + busch "wood," apparently from Frank. *busk "bush, woods" (see bush).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
AMBUSH definition
languageA language for linear programming problems in a materials processing and transportation network.
["AMBUSH - An Advanced Model Builder for Linear Programming", T.R. White et al, National Petroleum Refiners Assoc Comp Conf (Nov 1971)].
(1995-06-19)
Easton
Bible Dictionary
Ambush definition
Joshua at the capture of Ai lay in ambush, and so deceived the inhabitants that he gained an easy victory (Josh. 8:4-26). Shechem was taken in this manner (Judg. 9:30-45. Comp. Jer. 51:12).
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Example sentences
The occasion was grim: a funeral for the comrades who'd been killed in the government ambush three weeks earlier.
They use their impressive leap and sticky toes to climb up into the canopy at night to ambush their prey.
Two policemen and two soldiers were shot dead in an ambush.
Within days, the euro countries cantered into a new ambush.
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