A missile is a tube-shaped weapon that travels long distances through the air and explodes when it reaches its target.
Helicopters fired missiles at the camp.
...nuclear missiles.
2. countable noun
Anything that is thrown as a weapon can be called a missile.
The football supporters began throwing missiles, one of which hit the referee.
3. See also cruise missile, guided missile
More Synonyms of missile
missile in British English
(ˈmɪsaɪl)
noun
1.
any object or weapon that is thrown at a target or shot from an engine, gun, etc
2.
a.
a rocket-propelled weapon that flies either in a fixed trajectory (ballistic missile) or in a trajectory that can be controlled during flight (guided missile)
b.
(as modifier)
a missile carrier
Word origin
C17: from Latin: missilis, from mittere to send
missile in American English
(ˈmɪsəl; Chiefly British ˈmɪsˌaɪl)
adjective
1.
that can be, or is, thrown or shot, as from a gun
2. Rare
throwing or shooting missiles
noun
3.
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
Word origin
L missilis < missus: see mission
Synonyms of 'missile'
projectile, weapon, shell, rocket
More Synonyms of missile
In other languages
missile
British English: missile /ˈmɪsaɪl/ NOUN
A missile is a tube-shaped weapon that moves long distances through the air and explodes when it reaches its target.
They fired missiles all night.
American English: missile
Arabic: قَذِيفَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: míssil
Chinese: 导弹
Croatian: projektil
Czech: střela raketa
Danish: missil
Dutch: projectiel
European Spanish: misil
Finnish: ohjus
French: missile
German: Raketengeschoss
Greek: πύραυλος
Italian: missile
Japanese: ミサイル
Korean: 미사일
Norwegian: missil
Polish: pocisk
European Portuguese: míssil
Romanian: proiectil
Russian: ракета
Latin American Spanish: misil
Swedish: missil
Thai: ขีปนาวุธ
Turkish: füze
Ukrainian: ракета
Vietnamese: tên lửa
Chinese translation of 'missile'
missile
(ˈmɪsaɪl)
n(c)
(Mil) 导(導)弹(彈) (dǎodàn) (枚, méi)
(= object thrown) 投掷(擲)物 (tóuzhìwù)
(noun)
Definition
an object or weapon that is thrown, launched, or fired at a target
nuclear missiles
Synonyms
projectile
an enormous artillery gun used to fire a huge projectile
weapon
shell
the whistling screech of an enemy shell
rocket
There has been a rocket attack on the capital.
subject word lists
See Missiles
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rocket
Definition
a self-propelling device, usually cylindrical, which produces thrust by expelling through a nozzle the gases produced by burning fuel, such as one used as a firework or distress signal