noun
missile
MIHS-yl
noun
1
A self-propelled, guided weapon that flies to its target.
"The military tested a new long-range missile."
"The missile struck the target with pinpoint accuracy."
2
Any object thrown or fired at someone as a weapon.
"Protesters hurled bottles and other missiles at the police line."
How to Use Missile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA weapon (usually rocket-powered and guided) that is launched at a target, or more loosely, anything thrown as a projectile.
Common pairings
guided missile
launch a missile
ballistic missile
Word Forms
missiles plural
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Etymology
From Latin missile, "something thrown," from mittere, "to send."