Pronunciation: [wˈɔːhɛdz] (IPA) 
Warheads (wɔːrhɛdz) is the correct spelling of this word. The word is composed of two morphemes: "War" and "heads." The "war" part of the word refers to a conflict or battle, while "heads" means the top or front part of something. The pronunciation of this word is often confused with "wear" heads or "were" heads. However, the correct pronunciation of warheads emphasizes the "a" sound followed by a clear "r".
Warheads are powerful explosives or missiles that are specifically designed to cause destruction and inflict significant damage during combat or warfare. These devices traditionally contain a combination of chemical or nuclear materials, explosives, and other components that are engineered to maximize the destructive impact of an explosion.
Warheads can refer to the payload or component of various weapons, such as missiles, rockets, torpedoes, or artillery shells. They are typically the part that enables the delivery of the explosive force to the intended target. The design and arrangement of warheads may vary depending on the intended purpose of the weapon system, ranging from the destruction of specific military targets to causing widespread destruction or devastation.
In the case of nuclear warheads, they are the key elements of nuclear weapons. These warheads contain fissile material, such as highly enriched uranium or plutonium, that can undergo a chain reaction and release an immense amount of energy in the form of a nuclear explosion. The destructive power of nuclear warheads is far greater than conventional explosives, making them capable of causing extensive damage over a vast area.
Due to their lethal nature, warheads are heavily regulated under international law, with the manufacturing, testing, deployment, and use of certain types of warheads subject to various treaties and agreements in an effort to control and limit the proliferation of these devastating weapons.
The word "warheads" can be broken down into two parts: "war" and "heads".
The term "war" has its origins in Old English "wyrre" (pronounced war-uh), which means "strife" or "conflict". It is related to the Old High German word "werra" and Old Norse "verr", all of which share the same meaning. Over time, "wyrre" evolved into the Middle English word "werre", and eventually got anglicized into the word we use today, "war".
The term "heads" comes from the Old English word "heafod" (pronounced hay-uh-vod), which means "head". This root word has remained fairly consistent throughout the centuries.
