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missile
[ mis-uhl or, especially British, -ahyl ]
/ ˈmɪs əl or, especially British, -aɪl /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
an object or weapon for throwing, hurling, or shooting, as a stone, bullet, or arrow.
adjective
capable of being thrown, hurled, or shot, as from the hand or a gun.
used or designed for discharging missiles.
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Origin of missile
1600–10; <Latin, neuter of missilis, equivalent to miss(us) (past participle of mittere to send, throw) + -ilis-ile
Words nearby missile
missend, missense, miss fire, misshape, misshapen, missile, missileer, missile gap, missileman, missilery, missing
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use missile in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for missile
missile
/ (ˈmɪsaɪl) /
noun
any object or weapon that is thrown at a target or shot from an engine, gun, etc
- 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)
- (as modifier)a missile carrier
Word Origin for missile
C17: from Latin: missilis, from mittere to send
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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