gun ‧ boat /ˈɡʌnbəʊt $ -boʊt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . a small ship that carries several large guns
2 . gunboat diplomacy the practice of threatening to use force against another country to make them agree to your demands
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THESAURUS
■ military ships
▪ warship a military ship with guns, used in a war
▪ battleship the largest type of ship used in war, with very big guns on it
▪ aircraft carrier a military ship that planes can fly from or land on
▪ destroyer a small fast military ship with guns, often used for protecting battleships
▪ gunboat a small fast ship with guns on it, often used in shallow water near a coast
▪ submarine a military ship that can stay under water:
a nuclear submarine
▪ minesweeper a military ship used for removing bombs from under water