catapult
/ˈkætəpʌlt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkætəpʌlt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈka-tə-ˌpəlt -ˌpu̇lt/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkæt.ə.pʌlt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkæt̬.ə.pʌlt/ (ame, ipa)
catapult — 名詞
- catapultsingular
- catapultsplural
1. a device that uses stored tension or a lever to shoot an object through the air
投擲裝置
利用張力將物體高速拋出的機械
a device that uses stored tension or a lever to shoot an object through the air at high speed
At the science fair, Arun built a small catapult from wooden sticks and rubber bands.
在科展上，Arun 用木棍和橡皮筋做了一個小型的投擲裝置。
collocation: build/make a catapult
The engineers tested a catapult that could launch water bottles over a hundred metres.
工程師測試了一臺能將水瓶發射到一百多公尺外的投擲裝置。
Keiko watched in amazement as the catapult flung a pumpkin high into the air.
Keiko 驚奇地看著投擲裝置把一顆南瓜高高地拋向空中。
Tariq released the lever and his catapult flung a tennis ball over the garden wall.
Tariq 鬆開控制桿，他的投擲裝置就把一顆網球彈飛過了花園的圍牆。
The film crew used a catapult to send props flying across the battle set.
拍攝團隊用投擲裝置將道具彈射到戰鬥場景的片場各處。
2. a small Y-shaped stick with a strip of elastic fixed between its two upper ends,
彈弓
Y字形手持玩具，用來發射小石子
a small Y-shaped stick with a strip of elastic fixed between its two upper ends, held in the hand and used mainly by children to shoot small stones or pellets
Diego found an old catapult in his grandfather's shed and shot pebbles at tin cans.
Diego 在祖父的小屋裡找到一把舊彈弓，用它射著錫罐玩。
The Okafor brothers took their catapults down to the river and aimed at floating bottles.
Okafor 兄弟帶著彈弓到河邊，瞄準水面上的空瓶。
Javier aimed his catapult at an empty tin can balanced on the fence post.
Javier 用彈弓瞄準了籬笆柱上放著的一個空錫罐。
Petra's little brother got into trouble for firing his catapult at a neighbour's window.
Petra 的弟弟因為用彈弓射鄰居的窗戶而惹上了麻煩。
You can make a simple catapult with a Y-shaped stick and an elastic band.
你只要用一根 Y 形樹枝和一條橡皮筋，就能做出一把簡單的彈弓。
用法筆記
In American English this device is called a slingshot. The word catapult in the US usually refers only to the larger historical or mechanical devices.
常見錯誤
3. a large wooden war engine used in ancient and medieval times to hurl heavy stone
投石機
古代攻城用的重型投射武器
a large wooden war engine used in ancient and medieval times to hurl heavy stones, burning material, or other missiles at enemy walls and troops
The defenders surrendered after a catapult sent a huge rock through the north wall.
當投石機把一塊巨石砸穿北面城牆後，城堡守軍就投降了。
The museum displays a full-size replica of a Roman catapult used in sieges.
博物館展示了一臺羅馬時期攻城用投石機的全尺寸複製品。
collocation: Roman/medieval/siege catapult
Amara stood beside the ancient catapult, imagining its thunderous noise in battle.
Amara 站在古老的投石機旁，想像它在戰場上雷鳴般的巨響。
Ingrid watched the siege catapult fling a burning barrel over the replica castle wall.
Ingrid 看著攻城投石機把一個燃燒的木桶拋過了複製城堡的城牆。
Engineers studying ancient warfare rebuilt the catapult from drawings in old manuscripts.
研究古代戰爭的工程師根據舊手稿中的圖紙，重新打造了一臺投石機。
4. a steam-powered or electromagnetic mechanism fitted to an aircraft carrier that
彈射器
航空母艦上用於起飛飛機的裝置
a steam-powered or electromagnetic mechanism fitted to an aircraft carrier that accelerates a plane from a standstill to flight speed within a few seconds
The fighter jet roared off the deck as the catapult shot it to flight speed.
戰鬥機從甲板上轟然起飛，彈射器瞬間將其推至飛行速度。
The bomber could never take off on so short a deck without the catapult.
沒有彈射器，轟炸機根本無法在這麼短的甲板上起飛。
Zara felt her stomach lurch as the catapult shot her aircraft forward over the sea.
當彈射器將她的飛機向前彈出海面時，Zara 感到胃一陣翻騰。
Commander Zhao braced himself as the catapult hurled his jet off the carrier deck.
當彈射器將他的戰機彈出航空母艦甲板時，趙指揮官穩住了自己的身體。
A fault in the catapult system delayed all flights for the rest of the morning.
彈射器系統的故障，讓當天上午所有的航班都延誤了。
- aircraft launcher
descriptive term that avoids the historical associations of 'catapult'
- launch bar
specifically the component that attaches the aircraft to the catapult track
用法筆記
Found almost exclusively on aircraft carriers. Distinguished from the other senses by its specific military and naval context.
catapult — 動詞
- catapultpresent simple I / you / we / they
- catapults3rd person singular
- catapulting-ing form
- catapultedpast simple
1. to throw a person or object through the air with sudden, violent force, as thoug
猛力拋出
以極大力量將人或物拋出
to throw a person or object through the air with sudden, violent force, as though shot from a catapult
The crash catapulted Henrik through the windscreen and onto the grass verge.
車禍將 Henrik 猛力拋出擋風玻璃，摔在路邊的草坡上。
The explosion catapulted debris across three city blocks in a matter of seconds.
爆炸在幾秒內將碎片猛力拋出，飛越了三個街區。
often passive: be catapulted + across/through/into
A powerful wave catapulted the small fishing boat onto the rocky shore.
一個大浪將小漁船猛力拋到岩石遍布的岸上。
The bull jerked its head and catapulted the rider into the dust.
公牛猛然甩頭，將騎士猛力拋進塵土中。
The earthquake catapulted furniture from one side of the room to the other.
地震將家具從房間的一端猛力拋到另一端。
文法句型
catapult + someone/something + preposition phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice ('was catapulted through/into/across'). The subject is typically a crash, explosion, collision, or other violent event rather than a person deliberately throwing something.
常見錯誤
2. to cause a person to move suddenly and unexpectedly into a much better or more p
急速崛起
突然獲得名聲或更高地位
to cause a person to move suddenly and unexpectedly into a much better or more prominent position — for example, becoming famous, successful, or powerful almost overnight
The viral video catapulted Mr. Okonkwo from a small-town teacher to a national celebrity.
那支爆紅的影片讓 Okonkwo 先生從一名小鎮教師急速崛起為全國名人。
Winning the gold medal catapulted Seong-min into the top ten of the world rankings.
奪得金牌讓 Seong-min 急速崛起，躋身世界排名前十。
pattern: catapult + someone + into/to + [position]
Fatima's first novel catapulted her onto the bestseller list within a month.
Fatima 的第一本小說就讓她急速崛起，在一個月內登上暢銷書榜。
The scandal catapulted a minor official into the centre of a national debate.
那起醜聞讓一名地方小官急速崛起，成為全國辯論的焦點人物。
A single hit catapulted the band from small pubs to headlining festivals.
一首熱門單曲就讓樂團急速崛起，從小酒吧登上音樂節的壓軸舞台。
文法句型
catapult + someone + into/to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Always followed by 'into' or 'to' plus a noun phrase naming the new state or position. The subject is usually an event or achievement, not the person who rises. Distinguish from verb sense 1 (HURL FORCEFULLY): this sense is always about status or position, never about physical movement.