| 释义 |
cat·a·pult
I. \ˈkad.əˌpəlt, -atə-, -u̇lt\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, modification of Greek katapaltēs, katapeltēs, from kata- cata- + -paltēs, -peltēs (from pallein to hurl) — more at polemic
1. : an ancient military device used for hurling heavy missiles (as stones) or for hurling other missiles (as spears, arrows) with extreme force; especially : onager 2
2. Britain : slingshot
3.
a. : any of various mechanical devices utilizing the recoil of a spring (as for hurling grenades or bombs)
b. : a device for launching an airplane at flying speed (as from an aircraft carrier) usually consisting of a carriage accelerated on a track by the explosion of powder, by hydraulic pressure, or by steam pressure
 [catapult 1]
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
transitive verb
1. : to throw, drive, discharge, move, or launch by or as if by means of a catapult
< he is … catapulted some fifteen to twenty feet before his flight is stayed — Henry LaCossitt >
< factors which catapulted him into absolute power — Andrew Gyorgy >
< the question catapults us at once into … highly technical controversy — Bernard Brodie >
2. Britain : to shoot or shoot at with a slingshot
< might be stealing shell eggs somewhere or catapulting farmers, shepherds, or sheep — Rose Macaulay >
intransitive verb
1. : to become catapulted
< the plane catapulted from the carrier deck >
< the flier catapulted from the cockpit of the damaged plane >
2. : to move with a suddenness or force as if propelled by a catapult
< the stream catapulting down from the gray, cold boulders — Curtis Zahn >
< the turmoil which catapulted through him — Marcia Davenport > |