anti-ballistic missileadj.n.
/ˌantɪbəlɪstɪk ˈmɪsʌɪl/, U.S. /ˌæn(t)ibəˌlɪstɪk ˈmɪs(ə)l/, /ˌænˌtaɪbəˌlɪstɪk ˈmɪs(ə)l/, /ˌæn(t)əbəˌlɪstɪk ˈmɪs(ə)l/ A. adj. (in attributive use).
Of a missile, defence system, etc.: designed to defend against ballistic missiles.
ΚΠ
1957 N.Y. Times 14 May 16/4 What has been described as the ‘ultimate weapon’, the anti-ballistic-missile missile, a weapon designed to locate and destroy ballistic missiles.
1963 Missiles & Rockets 16 Sept. 14/1 The Soviet Union may be developing an anti-ballistic missile system capable of de-activating U.S. missiles in their silos.
2010 T. Blair Journey xiv. 418 Iraq declared the consumption of a number of SCUD missiles as targets in the development of an anti-ballistic missile defence system during the 1980s.
B. n.
A missile designed to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles. Abbreviated ABM.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > guided or ballistic missile > [noun] > types of
loon1947
seeker1949
Honest John1952
Nike1952
heat-seeker1956
anti-ballistic missile1957
Polaris1957
Pershing1958
SAM1958
cruise missile1959
sea-cat1959
minuteman1961
ABM1963
lance1964
Exocet1970
trident1972
MX missile1973
stinger1975
cruise1976
tomahawk1976
silo buster1977
Euromissile1979
Brilliant Pebbles1988
1957 Altoona (Pa.) Mirror 22 Nov. 7/1 Reports of projects for ballistic missiles, anti-ballistic missiles, an earth satellite and an atom-powered plane came in a steady stream from Washington.
1978 Bull. Amer. Acad. Arts & Sci. Feb. 4 The possible use of antiballistic missiles was soon to become a subject of lively debate.
2021 China Daily (Internat. ed.) 8 Feb. 8 Anti-ballistic missiles are a highly difficult technology to master. Intercepting a ballistic missile in flight is like shooting a bullet to hit another bullet.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2022).
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adj.n.1957