missile

American  

[mis-uhl, -ahyl] / ˈmɪs əl, -aɪl /

noun

1. an object or weapon for throwing, hurling, or shooting, as a stone, bullet, or arrow.

2. guided missile.

3. ballistic missile.

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adjective

1. capable of being thrown, hurled, or shot, as from the hand or a gun.

2. used or designed for discharging missiles.

missile British  

/ ˈmɪsaɪl /

noun

1. any object or weapon that is thrown at a target or shot from an engine, gun, etc

2. 1. 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)

   2. ( as modifier )

      a missile carrier

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Etymology

Origin of missile

1600–10; < Latin, neuter of missilis, equivalent to miss ( us ) (past participle of mittere to send, throw) + -ilis -ile

Example Sentences

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

Defense Department to quadruple the annual production of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptor missiles, to 400 from 96.

From MarketWatch

Guidance includes L3Harris’ missile business, which will be spun off later this year.

From Barron's

The Thaad, which stands for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, is an American anti-ballistic missile system that can be used as backup against missiles both outside and inside the atmosphere.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Pentagon’s buildup in the region includes an aircraft carrier with three guided-missile destroyers, warplanes and missile defenses.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ammunition
• bomb
• bullet
• projectile
• rocket