the part of a country’s armed forces that fights using aircraftthe US Air Forceair-force officersCollocationsWar and peaceStarting a wardeclare/make/wage war (on somebody/something)go to war (against/with somebody)cause/spark/provoke/foment/quell unrestincite/lead/crush/suppress a revolt/rebellionlaunch/mount/carry out a surprise/terrorist attackprevent/halt/represent an escalation of the conflictbe torn apart by/be on the brink of civil warenter/invade/occupy somebody’s territorylead/launch/resist/repel an invasionMilitary operationsadopt/develop/implement/pursue a military strategycarry out/execute/perform military operations/manoeuvres/(especially US English) maneuverssend/deploy/station/pull back/withdraw troopsgo on/fly/carry out a reconnaissance/rescue missiontrain/equip/deploy army/military/combat unitslead/launch/conduct a raid/a surprise attack/an (air/airborne/amphibious) assault (on somebody)employ/use guerrilla tacticsconduct/wage biological/guerrilla warfarefight/crush/defeat the rebels/the insurgencysuffer/inflict a crushing defeatachieve/win a decisive victoryhalt/stop the British/German/Russian advanceorder/force a retreatFightingjoin/serve in the army/navy/air forcebe/go/remain/serve on active dutyserve/complete/return from a tour of dutybe sent to the front (line)attack/strike/engage/defeat/kill/destroy the enemysee/report/be engaged in heavy fightingcall for/be met with armed resistancecome under heavy/machine-gun/mortar firefire a machine-gun/mortar shells/rockets (at somebody/something)shoot a rifle/a pistol/bullets/missileslaunch/fire a cruise/ballistic/anti-tank missileuse biological/chemical/nuclear weaponsinflict/suffer/sustain heavy losses/casualtiesbe hit/killed by enemy/friendly/artillery firebecome/be held as a prisoner of warCivilians in warharm/kill/target/protect innocent/unarmed civilianscause/avoid/limit/minimize civilian casualties/collateral damageimpose/enforce/lift a curfewengage in/be a victim of ethnic cleansingbe sent to an internment/a concentration campaccept/house/resettle refugees fleeing from warfear/threaten military/violent reprisalscommit/be accused of war crimes/crimes against humanity/genocideMaking peacemake/bring/win/achieve/maintain/promote peacecall for/negotiate/broker/declare a ceasefire/a temporary trucesign a ceasefire agreementcall for/bring/put an end to hostilitiesdemand/negotiate/accept the surrender of somebody/somethingestablish/send (in) a peacekeeping forcenegotiate/conclude/ratify/sign/accept/reject/break/violate a peace treatyOxford Collocations DictionaryAir force is used before these nouns: base,commander,helicopter,…Seefull entrySee related entries:The air forceCulturethe armed forcesThe British armed forces, sometimes called the services, consist of the Army, the Royal Navy (RN), and the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Queen is Commander-in-Chief of all three services, but responsibility for their management lies with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), which is headed by the Secretary of State for Defence. The Army is the largest of the three services and the Royal Navy the smallest. The Navy is the service with the longest history and is sometimes known as the senior service. The regular forces are supported when necessary by the regular reserves, who are former members of the regular forces, and volunteer reserves, people who train in their free time with the Army Reserve, the Royal Air Force Reserves, or the Royal Navy Reserve. In 1998 the government's Strategic Defence Review set out a plan of modernization of the armed forces and established a Joint Rapid Reaction Force which includes all three services. In 2010, after a Strategic Defence and Security Review, cuts of nearly 8% in the number of members of the armed forces were announced by the government. In the US the President is Commander-in Chief of the armed forces and the Secretary of Defense is responsible for their management. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are the military leaders of the four services, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, which are supported when necessary by the reserve forces, the US Army Reserve, the National Guard and the Navy Reserve. The Army is the service with the longest history. Four of its leaders became President: George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S Grant and Dwight Eisenhower.
See air force in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishSee air force in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
