catapult

[ kat-uh-puhlt, -poolt ]

/ ˈkæt əˌpʌlt, -ˌpʊlt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR catapult ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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

British. a slingshot.

verb (used with object)

to hurl from a catapult.

to thrust or move quickly or suddenly: His brilliant performance in the play catapulted him to stardom.

British.

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

verb (used without object)

to be catapulted.

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.

Nearby words

Origin of catapult

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

SYNONYMS FOR catapult

5. throw, fling, propel, pitch, shoot.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR catapult ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formscat·a·pul·tic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for catapult

But it was enough to catapult Davis into the national spotlight and raise immediate speculation about statewide office.
Wendy Davis Is (Probably) Running for Texas Governor|Caroline Linton|September 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But then you find yourself with the revenue to purchase that catapult you've been wanting.
Facebook After FarmVille|Ben Crair|May 10, 2011|DAILY BEAST
You think that this tragedy has given you an opportunity to catapult you [sic] dinky blog and newspaper to new heights.
The Missing Murder Suspect|Rick Outzen|July 31, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Theyve stolen the catapult and set fire to the place, he remembered dizzily, and now theyre skipping out.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science January 1931|Various

No moors for me this year: I'm back on the simple life and the catapult.
Foe-Farrell|Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
We had a "spring gun" or "catapult" that came very near preventing this book ever being written.
"Over There" with the Australians|R. Hugh Knyvett
The principle of the balista that of the sling, of the catapult that of the bow.
Early Britain--Roman Britain|Edward Conybeare
He had a big catapult with him, so he put a stone in his catapult, and slick!
The Talking Thrush|William Crooke

British Dictionary definitions for catapult

catapult

/ (ˈkætəˌpʌlt) /

noun

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, etcUS and Canadian name: slingshot

a heavy war engine used formerly for hurling stones, etc

a device installed in warships to launch aircraft

verb

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

(foll by over, into, etc) to move precipitatelyshe was catapulted to stardom overnight

Word Origin for catapult

C16: from Latin catapulta, from Greek katapeltēs, from kata- down + pallein to hurl

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for catapult

catapult

1570s, from Middle French catapulte and directly from Latin catapulta "war machine for throwing," from Greek katapeltes, from kata "against" (see cata-) + base of pallein "to toss, hurl" (see pulse (n.1)). As an airplane-launching device on an aircraft-carrier by 1927.

catapult

1848, "to throw with a catapult," from catapult (n.). Intransitive sense by 1928. Related: Catapulted; catapulting.

catapult

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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Origin of catapult

Examples from the Web for catapult

catapult

noun

verb

Word Origin for catapult

catapult

catapult