[kat-uh-puhlt, -poo
lt] 
| 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. |
| 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.
|
| 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. |
| cat·a·pult (kāt'ə-pŭlt', -pŏŏlt') n.
v. tr. To hurl or launch from or as if from a catapult. v. intr. To become catapulted; spring or bolt. [French catapulte, from Old French, from Latin catapulta, from Greek katapaltēs : kata-, cata- + pallein, to brandish, poise a weapon before hurling; see pāl- in Indo-European roots.] |