Missile Definition
mĭsəl, -īl
missiles
noun
missiles
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.
Webster's New World
A guided missile.
American Heritage
A ballistic missile.
American Heritage
An object intended to be launched into the air at a target.
That missile is explosive enough to kill hundreds.
Wiktionary
(military) A self-propelled projectile whose trajectory can be adjusted after having been launched.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
- guided-missile
- ammunition
- rocket
- projectile
- cartridge
- zuni
- wagtail
- snark
- pershing
- navaho
- bullpup
- asm
- petrel
- retro-rocket
- rockoon
adjective
That can be, or is, thrown or shot, as from a gun.
Webster's New World
Throwing or shooting missiles.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- jaculatory
- wac-corporal
Other Word Forms of Missile
Noun
Singular:
missile
Plural:
missilesOrigin of Missile
-
From Latin missilis (“that may be thrown"), neuter missile (“a weapon to be thrown, a javelin"), in plural missilia (“presents thrown among the people by the emperors"), from mittere (“to send").
From Wiktionary
Latin from neuter of missilis able to be thrown from missus past participle of mittere to let go, throw
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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