missile
Americannoun
-
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.
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
-
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Airlines have long had to navigate sporadic flare-ups of armed conflict and missile strikes across Middle East skies.
Lawmakers and officials stated there is no evidence for claims of Iran’s imminent attack or rapid development of U.S.-striking missiles.
Many influencers have been posting praise for the government online, stressing that there is no need to feel unsafe and that the missile defence systems are working well.
From BBC
U.S. forces face challenges defending a huge swath of territory, with local air defenses overwhelmed and a shortage of munitions for missile defenses.
"In the initial phase, CENTCOM's focus was systematic targeting of Iranians' command-and-control infrastructure, naval forces, ballistic missile sites and intelligence infrastructure, designed to daze and confuse them," he said.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
