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missile Definition

mis·sile (mis′əl; chiefly Brit, -īl′)

adjective

  1. that can be, or is, thrown or shot, as from a gun
  2. Rare throwing or shooting missiles

Etymology: L missilis < missus: see mission

noun

a weapon or other object, as a spear, bullet, rocket, etc., designed to be thrown, fired, or launched toward a target; often, specif., a guided or ballistic missile

missile Synonyms

missile

n.

cartridge, projectile, ammunition, rocket, guided missile; see also bullet, shot 2, weapon 1.

Types of missiles include: Polaris, Poseidon, Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM), Titan, Pershing, cruise, MX, Minuteman, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM), Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM), Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS), Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV), Air-to-Surface Missile (ASM), Air-to-Air Missile (ATA), Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM), Surface-to-Surface Missile (SSM), Viking, Lance, Patriot, Hawk, Stinger, M-109, ton, Trident, Tomahawk, cruise, Sidewinder, Scud, Frog, Silkworm, Exocet.

missile Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • submarine-launch: Over the same period, the Soviet Union built 4 new classes of submarine-launched ballistic missiles and over 60 new missile submarines.
  • intercept: At sea, SM-3 missiles would be launched from Aegis destroyers, to intercept incoming ballistic missiles.

Adjective modifier

  • ballistic: Several of them include medium range ballistic missiles, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead for a distance of more than 1,000 nautical miles.
  • long-range: Long-range missiles are in the boost phase for only a few minutes.
  • surface-to-air: An airliner, on final approach into Heathrow, is tracked by surface-to-air missiles.
  • intercontinental: They have continued to build far more intercontinental ballistic missiles than they could possibly need simply to deter an attack.
  • short-range: Under the UN agreement after the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam is allowed to develop only short-range ballistic missiles.
  • air-to-air: In the air defense role armament options were four AIM-9 Sidewinders and four AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles.

Modifies a noun

  • defense: Missile defenses are a logical adjunct to our traditional policy.
  • launcher: The system included two missile launchers, an official at the Pentagon said on condition of anonymity.
  • proliferation: We are also convinced that the United Nations has an important role to play in curbing missile proliferation.
  • shield: The Defense Ministry's blueprint for a missile shield takes the new strategy further.
  • silo: In this case we have shutdown of strategic nuclear missiles coincident with UFO sighting over a missile silo!

Noun used with modifier

  • antiaircraft: On 27 May, the USA sends Stinger antiaircraft missiles to Saudi Arabia in case of Iranian attack.
  • anti-ship: The ADR is designed to counter active radar homing anti-ship missiles.
  • anti-tank: Armored personnel carriers with 2 anti-tank missiles on a cupola mounting an automatic cannon.
  • cruise: At his feet: shards of American cruise missiles.
  • hellfire: No official line on what to do if your flat gets decimated by hellfire missiles, unfortunately.
  • Polaris: This was a problem facing the US Navy in the development of the Polaris missile system.