stove embers; primer (ammunition)
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesnoun
remaining fire in a stove before adding new fuel; bed of embers
Refers to the glowing coals or remaining heat in a traditional cooking stove that serves as the base for new firewood.
Before adding firewood, check if the bed of embers is hot enough.
The stove maintains a steady bed of embers, perfect for simmering soup.
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The embers have died out; we need to restart the fire.
noun
primer; firing pin assembly (in ammunition)
technicalTechnical term in ballistics and military ordnance referring to the percussion cap or ignition component at the base of a cartridge or shell that ignites the propellant when struck by the firing pin.
The cartridge got damp, and the primer failed to ignite.
The firing pin struck the primer, detonating the propellant charge.
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Modern artillery shells mostly use electric primers.
Whether the primer is intact directly determines whether the ammunition can fire normally.