Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Missile
Mis′sile
,Adj.
[L.
missils
, fr. mittere
, missum
, to cause to go, to send, to throw; cf. Lith. mesti
to throw: cf. F. missile
. Cf. Admit
, Dismiss
, Mass
the religious service, Message
, Mission
.] Capable of being thrown; adapted for hurling or to be projected from the hand, or from any instrument or engine{2}, so as to strike an object at a distance.
We bend the bow, or wing the
missile
dart. Pope.
Mis′sile
,Noun.
[L.
missile
.] 1.
A weapon thrown or projected or intended to be projected, as a lance, an arrow, or a bullet.
Webster 1828 Edition
Missile
MIS'SILE
,Adj.
Thrown or sent, or that may be thrown. A missile weapon is one that is thrown by the hand, or from an engine in war, in distinction from such as are held or retained in the hand, or fixed. An arrow, a dart, a javelin, a stone, a bullet, a bomb, are missile weapons.
Definition 2024
missile
missile
English
A selection of missiles (military)
Noun
missile (plural missiles)
- Any object used as a weapon to hit the enemy or prey through the air, such as stone, arrow or bullet.
- The Rhodians, who used leaden bullets, were able to project their missiles twice as far as the Persian slingers, who used large stones.
- (military) A self-propelled projectile whose trajectory can be adjusted after having been launched.
- That missile is explosive enough to kill hundreds.
Related terms
Translations
air-based weapon
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self-propelled, guidable projectile
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See also
External links
- missile in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- missile in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911