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What does missile mean?

Definitions for missile
ˈmɪs əl; esp. Brit. -aɪlmis·sile

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word missile.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. missilenoun

    a rocket carrying a warhead of conventional or nuclear explosives; may be ballistic or directed by remote control

  2. projectile, missilenoun

    a weapon that is forcibly thrown or projected at a targets but is not self-propelled

GCIDE

  1. Missilenoun

    A rocket-propelled device designed to fly through the air and deliver a warhead of explosive materials to a target.

Wiktionary

  1. missilenoun

    An object intended to be launched into the air at a target.

  2. missilenoun

    A self-propelled projectile whose trajectory can be adjusted after having been launched.

  3. Etymology: From missilis, neuter missile, in plural missilia, from mittere.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Missileadjective

    Thrown by the hand; striking at distance.

    Etymology: missilis, Lat..

    We bend the bow, or wing the missile dart. Alexander Pope.

Wikipedia

  1. Missile

    In military terminology, a missile is a guided airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight usually by a jet engine or rocket motor. Missiles are thus also called guided missiles or guided rockets (when a previously unguided rocket is made guided). Missiles have five system components: targeting, guidance system, flight system, engine and warhead. Missiles come in types adapted for different purposes: surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missiles (ballistic, cruise, anti-ship, anti-submarine, anti-tank, etc.), surface-to-air missiles (and anti-ballistic), air-to-air missiles, and anti-satellite weapons. Airborne explosive devices without propulsion are referred to as shells if fired by an artillery piece and bombs if dropped by an aircraft. Unguided jet- or rocket-propelled weapons are usually described as rocket artillery. Historically, the word missile referred to any projectile that is thrown, shot or propelled towards a target; this usage is still recognized today.

ChatGPT

  1. missile

    Missile is a weapon that is self-propelled and guided towards its target. It usually refers to a long-range weapon designed for delivering and detonating explosives or other payloads, and can be launched from the ground, air, or sea. It's often used in military, defense, and space contexts. The term can broadly cover a vast array of armaments, from small, portable shoulder-fired weapons to large intercontinental ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Missileadjective

    capable of being thrown; adapted for hurling or to be projected from the hand, or from any instrument or rngine, so as to strike an object at a distance

  2. Missilenoun

    a weapon thrown or projected or intended to be projcted, as a lance, an arrow, or a bullet

  3. Etymology: [L. missils, fr. mittere, missum, to cause to go, to send, to throw; cf. Lith. mesti to throw: cf. F. missile. Cf. Admit, Dismiss, Mass the religious service, Message, Mission.]

Wikidata

  1. Missile

    In a modern military, a missile is a self-propelled guided weapon system, as opposed to a unguided self-propelled munition, referred to as just a rocket . Missiles have four system components: targeting and/or guidance, flight system, engine, and warhead. Missiles come in types adapted for different purposes: surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, air-to-air missiles, and anti-satellite missiles. All known existing missiles are designed to be propelled during powered flight by chemical reactions inside a rocket engine, jet engine, or other type of engine. Non-self-propelled airborne explosive devices are generally referred to as shells and usually have a shorter range than missiles. An ordinary English-language usage predating guided weapons is simply any thrown object, such as items thrown at players by rowdy spectators at a sporting event.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Missile

    mis′il, adj. that may be thrown from the hand or from any instrument.—n. a weapon thrown by the hand. [L. missilis—mittĕre, missum, to throw.]

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer

  1. missile

    Capable of being thrown; adapted for hurling, or to be projected from the hand, or from any instrument or engine; as, to wing the missile dart.

  2. missile

    A weapon thrown or intended to be thrown, for doing execution; as, a lance, an arrow, or a bullet.

Editors Contribution

  1. missilenoun

    A computing material of matter unsuitably used in the international system of units of measurement in the pattern of a statutory instrument chiefly expressing a language that engineers a diminutive sense. 1.) an object that is forcibly propelled at a target, either by hand or from a mechanical weapon. A weapon that is self-propelled or directed by remote control, carrying a conventional or nuclear explosive.

    The words in my vocabulary eventually become to form into missiles against my enemies frequency.

    Etymology: Torpedo


    Submitted by Tehorah_Elyon on May 10, 2024  

  2. missilenoun

    Military intelligence megahertz management information system of units of measurement forming names of appliances or instruments. 1.) An object that is forcibly propelled at a target, either by hand or from a mechanical weapon. 2.) Missiles collectively.

    My invisible missiles are authorized to do exactly what they are supposed to do in every situation.

    Etymology: Force


    Submitted by Tehorah_Elyon on March 31, 2024  

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'missile' in Nouns Frequency: #1921

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

Anagrams for missile »

  1. similes

  2. smilies

How to pronounce missile?

How to say missile in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of missile in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of missile in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of missile in a Sentence

  1. Singapore Carter:

    I've dealt with him, his father and his grandfather, they all had in common the determination to make North Korea able to stand on North Korea own. ... He's the one who has intensified missile launches. He's the one who has intensified the nuclear program.

  2. Evans Revere:

    I would not be surprised at all to see North Koreans take some kind of a step in the ballistic missile testing arena or in the nuclear testing arena, particularly if Biden wins the election, i think North Koreans are going to want to have him start out on the back foot to the extent possible. And one way to do that would be what United States did with President Obama.

  3. John Hultquist:

    China uses cyber espionage pretty regularly when Chinese interests are at stake to better understand facts on the ground, we have evidence that they targeted at least one party that has been associated with the missile placements.

  4. Kim Dong-yub:

    It becomes difficult to detect the origin of the launch in advance because it is capable of launching a missile from most anywhere in North Korea, targeting all of South Korea.

  5. Russian President Vladimir Putin:

    Until now, those taking such decisions have lived in calm, fairly well-off and in safety. Now, as these elements of ballistic missile defense are deployed, we are forced to think how to neutralize emerging threats to the Russian Federation.

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Popularity rank by frequency of use

missile#1#9640#10000

References

Translations for missile

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"missile." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 15 Mar. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/missile>.

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