Definition of MISSILE (original) (raw)
1
: capable of being thrown or projected to strike a distant object
2
: adapted for throwing or hurling missiles
Examples of missile in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Fu Qianshao, a former colonel in China’s air force, said his major takeaway from the fighting so far is that the People’s Liberation Army can’t forget about its defenses, noting how Iran has found ways around US anti-missile systems like the Patriot or Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). —
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 10 May 2026 They are hardened against the effects of a nuclear blast and include a range of security features, such as anti-missile countermeasures and an onboard operating room. —Jonathan J. Cooper, Fortune, 2 May 2026
Noun
North Korea's supply of missiles and artillery to Russia, in support of the war against Ukraine, has given it valuable battlefield data on its weapons, South Korean officials and experts have said. —Jack Kim, USA Today, 8 May 2026 Each interceptor missile can cost millions of dollars. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for missile
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Latin missilis, from mittere to throw, send
First Known Use
Adjective
1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
circa 1656, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of missile was in 1610
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