English Meaning & Definitions
A weapon that is self-propelled or directed by remote control, typically carrying an explosive warhead.
- “The military intercepted the incoming missile before it could reach the city.”
- “Modern defense systems are designed to track and neutralize a guided missile in mid-air.”
Any object that is forcibly thrown, hurled, or projected at a target.
- “The rioters threw stones and other missiles at the police line.”
- “The athlete was disqualified for throwing a dangerous missile onto the field.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “missile”.
Derived from the Latin 'missilis', meaning 'throwable' or 'that which can be thrown', from the verb 'mittere' (to send). Originally used in the 17th century to describe any object thrown or projected at a target, the term evolved in the 20th century to specifically denote self-propelled guided weapons.
Think of a 'miss-ile': If you don't aim it correctly, you will 'miss' the target with your 'ile' (projectile).
Frequently Asked Questions About “missile”
1. What is the meaning of “missile” in English?
In English, missile (noun) is defined as: “A weapon that is self-propelled or directed by remote control, typically carrying an explosive warhead.”.
2. How do you use “missile” in a sentence?
“The military intercepted the incoming missile before it could reach the city.”
3. What are English synonyms of “missile”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “missile”?
Derived from the Latin 'missilis', meaning 'throwable' or 'that which can be thrown', from the verb 'mittere' (to send). Originally used in the 17th century to describe any object thrown or projected at a target, the term evolved in the 20th century to specifically denote self-propelled guided weapons.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.