catapult Hear it!

catapult Definition

cata·pult (katə pult′, -po̵olt′)

noun

  1. an ancient military contrivance powered by either torsion or tension used for throwing or shooting stones, spears, etc.
  2. Brit. a slingshot
  3. a type of launcher that provides the force to hurl an airplane, missile, etc. from a deck or ramp to provide an initial high speed
  4. a device for ejecting a person from an airplane

Etymology: L catapulta < Gr katapeltēs < kata-, down, against + base of pallein, to toss, hurl

transitive verb

to shoot or launch from or as from a catapult; hurl

intransitive verb

to be catapulted; move quickly; leap

catapult Synonyms

catapult

n.

catapult Usage Examples

Object

  • launch: From here you are able to get excellent approach and landing shots, as well as the catapult launches.
  • band: The song became an overnight international smash, catapulting the band to instant stardom.
  • diary: Until fate insisted that the pair should part company catapulting the diary into a whirlwind of bizarre and slightly random situations.
  • publisher: Microsoft Visual C# .NET Step by Step Author(s ): Catapult Publisher: Microsoft Press,U.S.
  • issue: The high-profile Make Poverty History campaign has rightly been successful in catapulting the issues up the political agenda.
  • group: The bid would catapult the Spanish group from number 5 to number 2 in the world league of operators, excluding China Mobile.

Converse of object

  • use: Using either catapults or wooden throwing balls, try to smash the china ware arranged neatly on the racks.
  • include: They rarely found resistance to their superior weapons which included powerful catapults and often a number of elephants.
  • make: How long will it take to make those full size catapults?

Preposition: into

  • limelight: Local businesses in Havering were catapulted into the limelight at the Havering Business Awards on Friday 29 September.
  • air: I'm sure I saw people being catapulted into the air but by late afternoon everything was becoming a happy glaze.
  • world: Then Holly finds herself catapulted into a strange new world of antenatal classes.
  • spotlight: Ordinary men doing humdrum jobs were catapulted into the spotlight.

Modifying Another Word

  • forward: Creative Treatment Unrestrained children involved in a crash at 30mph can be catapulted forward at 30 - 60 times their own bodyweight.
  • back: The issue was catapulted back onto the council agenda by a motion from the Lib Dem camp demanding an immediate end to clamping.
  • then: Crystal is thrust into a past ruled by superstition, then catapulted into a future devastated by biological weapons.
  • suddenly: Class struggle is suddenly catapulted onto the front pages.
  • also: The bonus also catapulted Jones into second spot in the pay rise league.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • up: With the election of George Bush and the 9/11 attacks, New Labor's new imperialist strategy was catapulted up the political agenda.

Infinitive complement

  • launch: You, with the help of two dinosaurs, use a catapult to launch colored dinosaur eggs at the top of the screen.

Browse dictionary entries near catapult

  1. cataplasm
  2. cataplasia
  3. cataphyll
  4. cataphoresis
  5. Catanzaro
  6. Catania
  7. catamountain
  8. catamount
  9. catamite
  10. catamenia
  1. cataract
  2. catarrh
  3. catarrhine
  4. catastasis
  5. catastrophe
  6. catastrophism
  7. catatonia
  8. catawampus
  9. Catawba
  10. catbird