missile

[ mis-uhlor, especially British, -ahyl ]

noun

1. an object or weapon for throwing, hurling, or shooting, as a stone, bullet, or arrow.
2. guided missile.
3. ballistic missile.

adjective

1. capable of being thrown, hurled, or shot, as from the hand or a gun.
2. used or designed for discharging missiles.

missile

/ ˈmɪsaɪl /

noun

1. any object or weapon that is thrown at a target or shot from an engine, gun, etc
2. 1. a rocket-propelled weapon that flies either in a fixed trajectory (ballistic missile) or in a trajectory that can be controlled during flight (guided missile)
   2. ( as modifier )

      a missile carrier

Word History and Origins

Origin of missile¹

1600–10; < Latin, neuter of missilis, equivalent to miss ( us ) (past participle of mittere to send, throw) + -ilis -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of missile¹

C17: from Latin: missilis , from mittere to send

Example Sentences

Microsoft also plans to help SpaceX develop a defense system for the federal government that is capable of detecting and tracking ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles.

From Fortune

Meanwhile, Max Schrems, an Austrian activist, is hurling David-like missiles at tech giants, challenging them in the courts to keep people’s data safe and secure.

From Fortune

The potential applications of this new missile guidance system for cells are only just starting to be explored.

From Singularity Hub 

In essence, they crucially filled the gap of mobile-missile contingents in many Crusader armies, and thus were considered invaluable to many military actions during the Crusades.

From Realm of History

We’ve wanted to prevent them from developing more and more capable ballistic missiles.

From Freakonomics

The reason pilots would choose to use guns over a bomb or a missile is simple.

From The Daily Beast

We know that the skies are open season for all manner of drone traffic, from missile launchers to beer droppers.

From The Daily Beast

In the later stages of the war, the American-made Stinger missile was introduced and wreaked havoc among the Soviet helicopters.

From The Daily Beast

“I doubt you can solve range and the need for a large magazine with the same missile,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

That means it could take several missile shots to kill an enemy fighter, even for an advanced stealth aircraft like the Raptor.

From The Daily Beast

Yet in doing this they usually seem to have no idea of aim, but toss the missile aimlessly into the air.

From Project Gutenberg

But the latter, who was watching him, dodged the missile, which struck into the wall a few inches from his head.

From Project Gutenberg

But every weapon is uncertain on horseback, and especially every missile weapon, the bow as well as the rifle.

From Project Gutenberg

He covered the towers with rawhide to protect them from any kind of missile.

From Project Gutenberg

Here the missile is inserted at the breech, according to Your direction.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ammunition
• bomb
• bullet
• projectile
• rocket