Wiktionary
vb. (present participle of carpet bomb English)
WordNet
n. an extensive and systematic bombing intended to devastate a large target [syn: area bombing, saturation bombing]
Wikipedia
Carpet bombing, also known as saturation bombing, is a large aerial bombing done in a progressive manner to inflict damage in every part of a selected area of land. The phrase evokes the image of explosions completely covering an area, in the same way that a carpet covers a floor. Carpet bombing is usually achieved by dropping many unguided bombs.
The term obliteration bombing is sometimes used to describe especially intensified bombing with the intention of destroying a city or a large part of the city. The term area bombing refers to indiscriminate bombing of an area, and also encompasses cases of carpet bombing, including obliteration bombing. It was used in that sense especially during World War II. Carpet bombing of cities, towns, villages, or other areas containing a concentration of civilians is considered a war crime as of the 1977 Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions.
Usage examples of "carpet bombing".
His forces were decked out in new uniforms, supposedly waiting for the carpet bombing to begin so they could attack.
And they lacked the emotional hostages of my family, because, so far as they knew, my family had died in the carpet bombing of Tokyo.
What startled everybody about the carpet bombing of Hanoi wasn't the bombing.
The United American air strikes-both the raid on the Aerodrome and the carpet bombing of downtown Syracuse-had been devastatingly accurate.
That attitude of civilization had been burned out of him by exfoliants, carpet bombing, and sniper fire at four in the morning.
Back at my command post I realized the full extent of the preparatory carpet bombing.