missile
/ˈmɪsaɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɪsl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmi-səl chiefly British -ˌsīl/ (ame, mw)
missile — noun
- missilesingular
- missilesplural
1. A weapon that propels itself through the sky by its own power, guided to an exac
A weapon that propels itself through the sky by its own power, guided to an exact location where it explodes on impact.
The air force launched a missile from a fighter plane during the night exercise.
launch a missile — firing from an aircraft or base
Hui read that a missile had struck a market in the city centre.
A missile uses built-in sensors to find its way to the target.
Tanvi's team tested the missile guidance system near the coast last week.
The navy fired a missile that destroyed an old ship used for target practice.
- rocket
a rocket is a vehicle powered by an engine; not all rockets are missiles, and not all missiles are rockets — a missile is designed as a weapon
- projectile
more general; any object fired through the air, including bullets and cannonballs, not only self-propelled ones
文法句型
missile + verb (launches/lands/strikes)
launch/fire + a missile
missile + noun (system/strike/attack)
用法筆記
Commonly modified by type adjectives: guided missile, ballistic missile, cruise missile. In news reporting, this is the default sense.
2. A thing like a rock or a glass bottle that someone throws violently to injure an
A thing like a rock or a glass bottle that someone throws violently to injure another person or to cause damage.
Protesters threw missiles at the police, and a stone hit an officer in the arm.
throw missiles at — common verb + preposition pattern
Aaron picked up a brick and used it as a missile to break the window.
The soldiers were ordered to remove any loose stones that could become missiles.
During the fight, bottles and cans flew through the air as missiles.
- projectile
more formal and technical; used for any object sent through the air, including bullets and arrows
- shot
usually refers to a bullet or the act of firing a gun; narrower than missile in this sense
文法句型
throw + missile
use [object] as + a missile
用法筆記
This sense is broader than sense 1. It includes everyday objects (stones, bottles, bricks) when thrown violently. The object does not need to be a purpose-built weapon.
missile — adjective
- missilepositive
- missilercomparative
- missilestsuperlative
1. Describes an object that can be thrown or shot through the air to hit something
Describes an object that can be thrown or shot through the air to hit something far away.
The museum display showed missile stones used by ancient armies.
missile + noun — attributive use
The Roman soldiers each carried two missile javelins for the first charge.
Guards piled missile stones along the castle wall before the siege.
Sirin carried a missile spear that she could hurl at deer from twenty paces.
- projectile
can be used as both adjective and noun; more common in technical writing
用法筆記
This rare adjective is almost always used attributively (before a noun). Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 describes objects that CAN be thrown; sense 2 describes tools designed FOR throwing.
2. Describes a tool or weapon that is built for throwing objects such as stones, sp
Describes a tool or weapon that is built for throwing objects such as stones, spears, or other projectiles at a target.
The exhibition included a missile launcher used in medieval warfare.
missile launcher — fixed compound noun
Henrik explained how missile engines worked on historical siege machines.
Archaeologists found a missile weapon dating back over two thousand years.
At the museum, a missile launcher from the Ming dynasty caught Nora's eye.
- projectile
not a direct synonym of this sense; emphasises the launched object, not the launcher
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 applies to the LAUNCHING device (e.g., a catapult or missile launcher), whereas sense 1 applies to the objects that are thrown.