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

Princeton's WordNet(2.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. missile(noun)

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

2. projectile, missile(noun)

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

GCIDE(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Missile(n.)

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

   Etymology: [L. missile.]

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. missile(Noun)

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

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

2. missile(Noun)

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

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

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Missile(adj)

   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

   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.]

2. Missile(noun)

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

   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.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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.

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

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

Anagrams for missile »

1. smilies

2. similes

How to pronounce missile?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

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. William Gortney:

   Should these trends continue, over time NORAD will face increased risk in our ability to defend North America against Russian cruise missile threats.

2. Raphael Marcus:

   Rocket fire against Israels towns and cities cause the economy to grind to a halt and terrorize the civilian population and causes severe pressure against the Israeli government. While Israel developed an innovative solution with its Iron Dome short-range missile defense system, Hezbollah has also learned that with an expanded arsenal, it will attempt to saturate Iron Domes capabilities, in a future war, Hezbollahs also hopes to use precision missiles to target sensitive sites and critical installations in Israel in order to deliver a sharp blow that will impact Israels ability to declare a clear victory.

3. Hossein Jaberi Ansari:

   The U.S. sanctions against Iran's ballistic missile programme ... have no legal or moral legitimacy.

4. Samantha Power:

   After reviewing the available information, we can confirm that Iran launched on Oct. 10 a medium-range ballistic missile inherently capable of delivering a nuclear weapon, this was a clear violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1929.

5. Adam Mount:

   The United States appears to be adopting more realistic tactics on nuclear disarmament, but not more realistic objectives, the agenda is still dominated by the nuclear issue — to the detriment of achievable deals on arms control or other critical interests like human rights, proliferation risks, chemical and biological weapons, or missile limits.

Images & Illustrations of missile

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