projectile

American  

[pruh-jek-til, -tahyl] / prəˈdʒɛk tɪl, -taɪl /

noun

1. an object fired from a gun with an explosive propelling charge, such as a bullet, shell, rocket, or grenade.

2. a body projected or impelled forward, as through the air.

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adjective

1. impelling or driving forward, as a force.

2. caused by impulse, as motion.

3. capable of being impelled forward, as a missile.

4. Zoology. protrusile, as the jaws of a fish.

projectile British  

/ prəˈdʒɛktaɪl /

noun

1. an object or body thrown forwards

2. any self-propelling missile, esp one powered by a rocket or the rocket itself

3. any object that can be fired from a gun, such as a bullet or shell

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adjective

1. capable of being or designed to be hurled forwards

2. projecting or thrusting forwards

3. zoology another word for protrusile

Etymology

Origin of projectile

1655–65; < New Latin, neuter of prōjectilis (adj.) projecting. See project, -ile

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the coming days of the conflict would be decisive, and that the number of projectiles launched by Iran in the past 24 hours represented the lowest during the war.

From The Wall Street Journal

Other ships have been hit by projectiles, in the strait and in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf.

From The Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile, the UN nuclear watchdog said Iranian authorities had reported a projectile impact at the country's only operational nuclear power plant but that it caused no damage.

From Barron's

The UN nuclear watchdog said Wednesday that Iranian authorities had reported projectile impact at the country's only operational nuclear power plant that caused no damage.

From Barron's

Meanwhile, a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while anchored east of the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, the U.K.

From Barron's

Related Words

• arrow
• bullet
• dart
• missile
• rocket
• torpedo