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weapon definition

weapon (wep′ən)

noun

  1. an instrument or device of any kind used to injure or kill, as in fighting or hunting
  2. any organ or part of an organism used for attacking or defending
  3. any means of attack or defense the weapon of the law

Etymology: ME wepen < OE wæpen, akin to Ger waffe, ON vāpn, Goth wēpna: base found only in Gmc

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

law weapon definition - legal

weapon Synonyms

weapon

n.

  1. An instrument for combat

    armament, protection, weaponry, deadly weapon, hardware, sophisticated hardware, lethal weapon, defense.

    Weapons include: club, spear, arrow, mace, knife, catapult, bullet, dart, flechette, missile, sling, slingshot, CAM, cybernetic anthropomorphic machine, bomb, atomic bomb, nuclear bomb, rocket, torpedo, stick, ax, firearm, cannon, gun, musket, rifle, blackjack, whip, sword, pistol, revolver, bayonet, bazooka, mortar, antiaircraft gun, machine gun, warhead; airplane, tank, submarine, destroyer.

  2. A device thought of figuratively as a weapon

    argument, plea, evidence, influence, alibi, intimidation, threat, blackmail, scolding, sharp tongue.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

weapon Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • destruction: The recent fiasco around weapons of mass destruction springs to mind.

Converse of object

  • possess: It is now clear that at the time of the US-led military action Iraq did not possess such weapons.

Adjective modifier

  • nuclear: Ships carrying nuclear weapons will be banned from British ports.

Modifies a noun

  • inspector: Why was Hans Blix, the UN's chief weapons inspector, not given more time?

Noun used with modifier

  • chemical: The devastating effects of chemical weapons are well known in the area.
weapon usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

weapon quotes

A bayonet is a weapon with a worker at each end.

-Anonymous

Every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

-Bible (Old Testament)

In the sex war thoughtlessness is the weapon of the male, vindictiveness of the female.

-Connolly, Cyril Vernon

weapon quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"weapon." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/weapon>

APA Style

weapon. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/weapon

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