missile

American  

[mis-uhl, -ahyl] / ˈmɪs əl, -aɪl /

noun

1. an object or weapon for throwing, hurling, or shooting, as a stone, bullet, or arrow.

2. guided missile.

3. ballistic missile.

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adjective

1. capable of being thrown, hurled, or shot, as from the hand or a gun.

2. used or designed for discharging missiles.

missile British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of missile

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

Example Sentences

RTX announced five agreements with the Department of Defense to increase production of various missiles.

From Barron's

They include Poseidon - a new intercontinental, nuclear armed and nuclear powered undersea autonomous torpedo, and also Burevestnik – a nuclear armed and powered cruise missile.

From BBC

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier battle group arrived in the region in late January, along with sophisticated F-35 jets and missile defenses that continue to flow in.

From The Wall Street Journal

The combined missile and drone strikes which targeted power plants and infrastructure in Kyiv and multiple locations left the system operating with "serious restrictions", it said.

From BBC

China mines about 70% and refines 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are used in electronics, cars, medical imaging, missiles, fighter jets and more.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ammunition
• bomb
• bullet
• projectile
• rocket