noun
harpoon
hah-POON
Harpoon (noun) means a long spear-like weapon with a barbed point, thrown or fired to catch large sea animals such as whales. Example: “The old whaling ship still had a rusted harpoon mounted on deck.”
noun
1
A long spear-like weapon with a barbed point, thrown or fired to catch large sea animals such as whales.
"The old whaling ship still had a rusted harpoon mounted on deck."
"Modern whale researchers use harmless dart harpoons to attach tracking tags."
verb
1
To strike or catch something with a harpoon.
"The crew harpooned the marlin from the side of the boat."
How to use harpoon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA barbed spear for hunting large sea creatures, or the act of striking something with one.
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Word forms
- Plural
- harpoons
- Third person singular
- harpoons
- Past tense
- harpooned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old whaling ship still had a rusted _____ mounted on deck.
Etymology
From Old French harpon, ultimately from Ancient Greek harpage, "hook," related to harpazo, "to snatch or seize."
Rhymes for harpoon
See all rhymes for harpoon →Frequently asked questions
What does “harpoon” mean?
The word “harpoon” means a long spear-like weapon with a barbed point, thrown or fired to catch large sea animals such as whales. In plain terms, a barbed spear for hunting large sea creatures, or the act of striking something with one.
How do you pronounce “harpoon”?
“Harpoon” is pronounced hah-POON (/hɑːɹˈpuːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “harpoon” in a sentence?
Here is “harpoon” used in a sentence: “The old whaling ship still had a rusted harpoon mounted on deck.”
What part of speech is “harpoon”?
Depending on how it is used, “harpoon” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “harpoon” come from?
The word “harpoon” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old French harpon, ultimately from Ancient Greek harpage, "hook," related to harpazo, "to snatch or seize.".
How many meanings does “harpoon” have?
“Harpoon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long spear-like weapon with a barbed point, thrown or fired to catch large sea animals such as whales.
