Missile Definition

mĭsəl, -īl
missiles
noun
missiles
A weapon or other object, as a spear, bullet, rocket, etc., designed to be thrown, fired, or launched toward a target; often, specif., a guided or ballistic missile.
Webster's New World
A guided missile.
American Heritage
A ballistic missile.
American Heritage

An object intended to be launched into the air at a target.

That missile is explosive enough to kill hundreds.
Wiktionary

(military) A self-propelled projectile whose trajectory can be adjusted after having been launched.

Wiktionary
adjective
That can be, or is, thrown or shot, as from a gun.
Webster's New World
Throwing or shooting missiles.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Missile

Noun

Singular:
missile
Plural:
missiles

Origin of Missile

  • From Latin missilis (“that may be thrown"), neuter missile (“a weapon to be thrown, a javelin"), in plural missilia (“presents thrown among the people by the emperors"), from mittere (“to send").

    From Wiktionary

  • Latin from neuter of missilis able to be thrown from missus past participle of mittere to let go, throw

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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