catapult

== English == === Etymology === From Middle French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, from Ancient Greek καταπέλτης (katapéltēs), from κατά (katá, “downwards, into, against”) + πάλλω (pállō, “to poise or sway a missile before it is thrown”). Doublet of catapulta. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈkæ.tə.pʌlt/ Hyphenation: cat‧a‧pult === Noun === catapult (plural catapults) A device or weapon for throwing or launching large objects. A mechanical aid on aircraft carriers designed to help airplanes take off from the flight deck. (UK) A slingshot. An instance of firing a missile from a catapult. (figuratively) An instance of firing something, as if from a catapult. ==== Hyponyms ==== steam catapult torsion catapult trebuchet ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== catapeltic ==== Translations ==== === Verb === catapult (third-person singular simple present catapults, present participle catapulting, simple past and past participle catapulted) (transitive) To fire a missile from a catapult. (transitive) To fire or launch something, as if from a catapult. (transitive) To increase the status of something rapidly. (intransitive) To be fired from a catapult or as if from a catapult. (intransitive) To have one's status increased rapidly. ==== Translations ==== === See also === ballista crossbow onager siege engine trebuchet, trebucket