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missile definition

mis·sile (mis′əl; chiefly Brit, -īl′)

adjective

  1. that can be, or is, thrown or shot, as from a gun
  2. Rare throwing or shooting missiles

Etymology: L missilis < missus: see mission

noun

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 College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

missile Synonyms

missile

n.

cartridge, projectile, ammunition, rocket, guided missile; see also bullet, shot 2, weapon 1.

Types of missiles include: Polaris, Poseidon, Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM), Titan, Pershing, cruise, MX, Minuteman, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM), Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM), Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS), Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV), Air-to-Surface Missile (ASM), Air-to-Air Missile (ATA), Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM), Surface-to-Surface Missile (SSM), Viking, Lance, Patriot, Hawk, Stinger, M-109, ton, Trident, Tomahawk, cruise, Sidewinder, Scud, Frog, Silkworm, Exocet.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

missile Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • submarine-launch: Over the same period, the Soviet Union built 4 new classes of submarine-launched ballistic missiles and over 60 new missile submarines.

Adjective modifier

  • ballistic: Several of them include medium range ballistic missiles, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead for a distance of more than 1,000 nautical miles.

Modifies a noun

  • defense: Missile defenses are a logical adjunct to our traditional policy.

Noun used with modifier

  • antiaircraft: On 27 May, the USA sends Stinger antiaircraft missiles to Saudi Arabia in case of Iranian attack.
missile usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"missile." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/missile>

APA Style

missile. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/missile

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