catapult
Use Catapult in a sentence
əˌpʌlt, -ˌpʊlt noun
1.
an ancient military engine for hurling stones, arrows, etc.
2.
a device for launching an airplane from the deck of a ship.
3.
British. a slingshot.
verb (used with object)
4.
to hurl from a catapult.
5.
to thrust or move quickly or suddenly: His brilliant performance in the play catapulted him to stardom.
6.
British.
a.
to hurl (a missile) from a slingshot.
b.
to hit (an object) with a missile from a slingshot.
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Catapult
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is bowdlerise. Does it mean:
| to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable. |
| to flee; abscond: |
verb (used without object)
7.
to be catapulted.
8.
to move or spring up suddenly, quickly, or forcibly, as if by means of a catapult: The car catapulted down the highway. When he heard the alarm he catapulted out of bed.
Origin:
1570–80; < Latin catapulta < Greek katapéltēs, equivalent to kata- cata- + péltēs hurler, akin to pállein to hurl
1570–80; < Latin catapulta < Greek katapéltēs, equivalent to kata- cata- + péltēs hurler, akin to pállein to hurl
Related forms
cat·a·pul·tic, adjective
Synonyms
5. throw, fling, propel, pitch, shoot.
5. throw, fling, propel, pitch, shoot.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To catapult
Collins
World English Dictionary
catapult (ˈkætəˌpʌlt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | US and Canadian name: slingshot a Y-shaped implement with a loop of elastic fastened to the ends of the two prongs, used mainly by children for shooting small stones, etc |
| 2. | a heavy war engine used formerly for hurling stones, etc |
| 3. | a device installed in warships to launch aircraft |
| —vb (foll by over, into, | |
| 4. | (tr) to shoot forth from or as if from a catapult |
| 5. | to move precipitately: she was catapulted to stardom overnight |
| [C16: from Latin catapulta, from Greek katapeltēs, from kata- down + pallein to hurl] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
catapult
1577, from L. catapulta "war machine for throwing," from Gk. katapeltes, from kata "against" + base of pallein "to toss, hurl." The verb is first recorded 1848.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
The pilot drives the plane to a catapult which connects to the plane.
Then your opponent uses a little catapult to fling little plastic birds at the structure, scoring points for knocking it down.
We will achieve this objective by completing development of an improved method for measuring the catapult slot width.
He also has participated in engineering challenges including catapult and hovercraft building.
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