weapon
[ wep-uh n ]
/ ˈwɛp ən /
noun
any instrument or device for use in attack or defense in combat, fighting, or war, as a sword, rifle, or cannon.
anything used against an opponent, adversary, or victim: the deadly weapon of satire.
Zoology. any part or organ serving for attack or defense, as claws, horns, teeth, or stings.
verb (used with object)
to supply or equip with a weapon or weapons: to weapon aircraft with heat-seeking missiles.
QUIZZES
PRACTICE SOME ESCAPISM WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!
We salute you if you remember all the doovers from Word of the Day between May 25 and May 31!
Question 1 of 7
salute
Origin of weapon
before 900; Middle English wepen, Old English wǣpen; cognate with German Waffe, Old Norse vāpn, Gothic wēpna (plural)
OTHER WORDS FROM weapon
Words nearby weapon
wealth tax, wealthy, wean, weaner, weanling, weapon, weapon system, weaponeer, weaponize, weaponry, weapons carrier
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for weapon
British Dictionary definitions for weapon
weapon
/ (ˈwɛpən) /
noun
an object or instrument used in fighting
anything that serves to outwit or get the better of an opponenthis power of speech was his best weapon
any part of an animal that is used to defend itself, to attack prey, etc, such as claws, teeth, horns, or a sting
a slang word for penis
Derived forms of weapon
weaponed, adjectiveweaponless, adjectiveWord Origin for weapon
Old English wǣpen; related to Old Norse vápn, Old Frisian wēpen, Old High German wāffan
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