torpedo

[ tawr-pee-doh ]

noun

, plural tor·pe·does.

1. a self-propelled, cigar-shaped missile containing explosives and often equipped with a homing device, launched from a submarine or other warship, for destroying surface vessels or other submarines.
2. any of various submarine explosive devices for destroying hostile ships, as a mine.
3. a cartridge of gunpowder, dynamite, or the like, exploded in an oil well to facilitate the extraction of oil from the well.
4. a detonating device fastened to the top of a rail so as to be exploded by the pressure of a locomotive or car, thus giving an audible signal to members of a train crew.
5. any of various other explosive devices, as a firework that consists of an explosive wrapped up with gravel in a piece of tissue paper and that detonates when thrown forcibly on the ground or against a hard surface.
6. Also called torpedo fish. an electric ray, especially Torpedo nobiliana, of the Atlantic Ocean.
7. an electric catfish, Malapterurus electricus, inhabiting waters of tropical central Africa and the Nile valley.
8. Informal. a hero sandwich.
9. Slang. a gangster hired as a murderer.

verb (used with object)

, tor·pe·doed, tor·pe·do·ing.

1. to attack, hit, damage, or destroy with torpedoes.
2. to explode a torpedo in (an oil well) to facilitate the extraction of oil.
3. to undermine, ruin, or destroy:

   He torpedoed our plans.

verb (used without object)

, tor·pe·doed, tor·pe·do·ing.

1. to attack, damage, or sink a ship with torpedoes.

torpedo

/ tɔːˈpiːdəʊ /

noun

1. a cylindrical self-propelled weapon carrying explosives that is launched from aircraft, ships, or submarines and follows an underwater path to hit its target
2. obsolete.
   a submarine mine
3. a firework containing gravel and a percussion cap that explodes when dashed against a hard surface
4. a detonator placed on a railway line as a danger signal
5. any of various electric rays of the genus Torpedo

verb

1. to hit (a ship, etc) with one or a number of torpedoes
2. to render ineffective; destroy or wreck

   to torpedo the administration's plan

Derived Forms

• torˈpedo-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• tor·pedo·like adjective
• untor·pedoed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of torpedo¹

1510–20; < Latin torpēdō numbness, torpidity, electric ray, equivalent to torpē ( re ) to be stiff ( torpid ¹ ) + -dō noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of torpedo¹

C16: from Latin: crampfish (whose electric discharges can cause numbness), from torpēre to be inactive; see torpid

Related Words

• batter
• decimate
• demolish
• destroy
• devastate
• impair
• injure
• mangle
• mar
• ravage
• raze
• ruin
• sabotage
• shatter
• sink
• smash
• spoil
• trash
• undermine
• vandalize