ballistic

American  

[buh-lis-tik] / bəˈlɪs tɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to ballistics.

2. having its motion determined or describable by the laws of exterior ballistics.

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idioms

1. go ballistic, to become overwrought or irrational.

   went ballistic over the idea of a tax hike.

ballistic British  

/ bəˈlɪstɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to ballistics

2. denoting or relating to the flight of projectiles after power has been cut off, moving under their own momentum and the external forces of gravity and air resistance

3. (of a measurement or measuring instrument) depending on a brief impulse or current that causes a movement related to the quantity to be measured

   a ballistic pendulum

4. informal to become enraged or frenziedly violent

5. (of materials) strong enough to resist damage by projectile weapons

   ballistic nylon

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ballistic More Idioms  

1. see go ballistic.

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Other Word Forms

• ballistically adverb

Etymology

Origin of ballistic

First recorded in 1765–75; ballist(a) + -ic

Example Sentences

Patriot interceptors can shoot down ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ukraine’s air force said on Friday morning that Russia launched a ballistic missile and 111 drones to attack the country overnight without specifying the targets.

From The Wall Street Journal

Tehran has an estimated 2,000 midrange ballistic missiles that can reach across the region and strike as far as Israel.

From The Wall Street Journal

A Pentagon assessment on China’s military power concluded that the dismissals were possibly connected to fraud cases involving the construction of underground silos for ballistic missiles.

From The Wall Street Journal

Iran still has significant stockpiles of short range ballistic missiles and long range drones.

From BBC