catapult
[kat-uh-puhlt, -poo lt]
- an ancient military engine for hurling stones, arrows, etc.
- a device for launching an airplane from the deck of a ship.
- British. a slingshot.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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Origin of catapult
1570–80; < Latin catapulta < Greek katapéltēs, equivalent to kata- cata- + péltēs hurler, akin to pállein to hurl
Synonyms
See more synonyms for catapult on Thesaurus.com5. throw, fling, propel, pitch, shoot.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for catapulted
Contemporary Examples
It is a linguistic wish for the same kind of campaign that catapulted Barack Obama forward from the caucuses.
The Coronation That Wants to Be a Movement: Scenes From Hillary’s Iowa Steak FryAna Marie Cox
September 15, 2014
A number of passengers had been catapulted through the windows, in one instance with tragic results.
At the age of 9, Daniel Radcliffe was catapulted towards Harry Potter and Hollywood immortality by a single, instinctive wink.
How Daniel Radcliffe Became Harry Potter And Other Masterpiece Theatre TalesNico Hines
October 29, 2013
It was an amazing acting feat that catapulted him from gifted character actor to A-list leading man.
From ‘The Sopranos’ to ‘Not Fade Away,’ the Late James Gandolfini’s Finest RolesMarlow Stern
June 20, 2013
As Idol has faltered badly this season—with some of its lowest ratings ever—Lazaro has been catapulted to the top of the wreck.
Historical Examples
The word was catapulted from him as though by a muscular convulsion.
The Harbor of DoubtFrank Williams
From frozen mobility Lig-magte had catapulted into headlong attack.
Planet of the DamnedHarry Harrison
Both men went up into their saddles as if catapulted from the earth.
Desert ConquestA. M. Chisholm
Then the door opened and Harry was catapulted out into the lobby.
This Crowded EarthRobert Bloch
The Indian was catapulted from his saddle with arms pinioned to his aide.
The Pony Rider Boys in New MexicoFrank Gee Patchin
catapult
- 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
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- (tr) to shoot forth from or as if from a catapult
- (foll by over, into, etc) to move precipitatelyshe was catapulted to stardom overnight
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Word Origin
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 catapulted
catapult
v.
1848, "to throw with a catapult," from catapult (n.). Intransitive sense by 1928. Related: Catapulted; catapulting.
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catapult
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper