Catapult Definition
kătə-pŭlt, -po͝olt
catapulted, catapulting, catapults
noun
catapults
An ancient military contrivance powered by either torsion or tension used for throwing or shooting stones, spears, etc.
Webster's New World
A slingshot.
Webster's New World
A type of launcher that provides the force to hurl an airplane, missile, etc. from a deck or ramp to provide an initial high speed.
Webster's New World
A device for ejecting a person from an airplane.
Webster's New World
(figuratively) An instance of firing something, as if from a catapult.
Wiktionary
verb
catapulted, catapulting, catapults
To be catapulted; move quickly; leap.
Webster's New World
To shoot or launch from or as from a catapult; hurl.
Webster's New World
To hurl or launch by means other than a catapult.
The blast catapulted bricks across the street.
American Heritage
To bring suddenly into prominence.
The film catapulted her into fame.
American Heritage
To be catapulted or hurled.
The rider catapulted over the handlebars.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Other Word Forms of Catapult
Noun
Singular:
catapult
Plural:
catapultsOrigin of Catapult
-
From Middle French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, from Ancient Greek καταπέλτης (katapeltēs), from κατά (kata, “downwards, into, against”) + πάλλω (pallō, “I poise or sway a missile before it is thrown”).
From Wiktionary
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French catapulte from Old French from Latin catapulta from Greek katapaltēs kata- cata- pallein to brandish, poise a weapon before hurling pāl- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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