weapon

[ wep-uhn ]

noun

1. any instrument or device for use in attack or defense in combat, fighting, or war, as a sword, rifle, or cannon.
2. anything used against an opponent, adversary, or victim:

   the deadly weapon of satire.

3. Zoology. any part or organ serving for attack or defense, as claws, horns, teeth, or stings.

verb (used with object)

1. to supply or equip with a weapon or weapons:

   to weapon aircraft with heat-seeking missiles.

weapon

/ ˈwɛpən /

noun

1. an object or instrument used in fighting
2. anything that serves to outwit or get the better of an opponent

   his power of speech was his best weapon

3. any part of an animal that is used to defend itself, to attack prey, etc, such as claws, teeth, horns, or a sting
4. a slang word for penis

Derived Forms

• ˈweaponed, adjective
• ˈweaponless, adjective

Other Words From

• weaponed adjective
• weapon·less adjective
• outweaponed adjective
• super·weapon noun
• un·weaponed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of weapon¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English wepen, Old English wǣpen; cognate with German Waffe, Old Norse vāpn, Gothic wēpna (plural)

Word History and Origins

Origin of weapon¹

Old English wǣpen; related to Old Norse vápn, Old Frisian wēpen, Old High German wāffan

Example Sentences

One of campaigners' main concerns in regards to landmines is the danger these weapons present to civilians, killing indiscriminately as they are buried underground or scattered on the surface.

From BBC

A UK-based monitoring group put the death toll at 41 and reported that the strikes hit a warehouse used to store weapons and homes inhabited by families of Iran-backed militia fighters.

From BBC

Indeed, as Zeldovich writes, “These phages might be our best weapons against the next bacterial pandemics.”

From Salon

The tactics used at the time — deforestation and afforestation, cutting off water supplies, raids on Palestinian communities — are still being applied today, with the addition of 21st-century weapons and a far more sophisticated state apparatus.

From Salon

The Home Office said the scheme had taken dangerous weapons "off our streets" and that compensation claims had "undergone stringent review".

From BBC

Related Words

• ammunition
• bomb
• cannon
• firearm
• gun
• knife
• machete
• machine gun
• missile
• nerve gas
• pistol
• revolver
• rifle
• shotgun
• sword
• tear gas