Torpedo Definition
tôr-pēdō
torpedoed, torpedoes, torpedoing
noun
torpedoes
Webster's New World
A large, cigar-shaped, self-propelled underwater projectile for launching against enemy ships from a submarine, airplane, etc.: it is detonated by contact, sound, etc.
Webster's New World
A metal case containing explosives, esp. one used as an underwater mine.
Webster's New World
An explosive cartridge or a flare, placed on a railroad track and detonated by a train wheel as a signal to the crew.
Webster's New World
A small firework consisting of gravel wrapped in tissue paper with a percussion cap that explodes when thrown against a hard surface.
American Heritage
verb
torpedoed, torpedoing
To attack, damage, or destroy with or as with a torpedo.
Webster's New World
To destroy decisively; wreck.
Torpedo efforts at reform.
American Heritage
Origin of Torpedo
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From Latin torpÄ“dō (“a torpedo fish"), from torpÄ“dō (“numbness, torpidity, electric ray"), from torpeō (“I am stiff, numb, torpid; I am astounded; I am inactive") and -dō (“noun suffix"), from Proto-Indo-European *ster (“stiff"), see also Old English steorfan (“to die"), Ancient Greek στερεός (stereos, “solid"), Lithuanian tirpstu (“to become rigid"), Old Church Slavonic трупети (trupeti)
From Wiktionary
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Latin torpēdō numbness, electric ray from torpēre to be stiff ster-1 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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