catapult

American  

[kat-uh-puhlt, -poolt] / ˈkæt əˌpʌlt, -ˌpʊlt /

noun

1. an ancient military engine for hurling stones, arrows, etc.

2. a device for launching an airplane from the deck of a ship.

3. British.  a slingshot.

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verb (used with object)

1. to hurl from a catapult.

2. to thrust or move quickly or suddenly.

   His brilliant performance in the play catapulted him to stardom.

   Synonyms:

   shoot , pitch , propel , fling , throw

3. British.

   1. to hurl (a missile) from a slingshot.

   2. to hit (an object) with a missile from a slingshot.

verb (used without object)

1. to be catapulted.

2. to move or spring up suddenly, quickly, or forcibly, as if by means of a catapult.

   The car catapulted down the highway. When he heard the alarm he catapulted out of bed.

catapult British  

/ ˈkætəˌpʌlt /

noun

1. US and Canadian name: slingshot.  a Y-shaped implement with a loop of elastic fastened to the ends of the two prongs, used mainly by children for shooting small stones, etc

2. a heavy war engine used formerly for hurling stones, etc

3. a device installed in warships to launch aircraft

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verb

1. (tr) to shoot forth from or as if from a catapult

2. to move precipitately

   she was catapulted to stardom overnight

Other Word Forms

• catapultic adjective

Etymology

Origin of catapult

1570–80; < Latin catapulta < Greek katapéltēs, equivalent to kata- cata- + péltēs hurler, akin to pállein to hurl

Example Sentences

"Stranger Things definitely needs to switch off its boombox, hang up its catapults and admit it's too old for these capers, but it's worth indulging it one last time," Seale wrote.

From BBC

Five birdies on the back nine catapulted the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup champion Fleetwood into contention, while Canter's 67 was built on a platform of four birdies in his opening seven holes.

From BBC

Simply put, he’s suggesting a moon base will crank out satellites and throw them into orbit with a catapult.

From The Wall Street Journal

Louis likens himself to Pierre, the main protagonist in War & Peace, who represents the "everyman" as the illegitimate son of a rich aristocrat who inherits a huge fortune, catapulting him into Russian high society.

From BBC

Curry’s deal with Under Armour catapulted him to the top of highest earners in all of sports.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• slingshot