any object or weapon that is thrown at a target or shot from an engine, gun, etc a rocket-propelled weapon that flies either in a fixed trajectory (ballistic missile) or in a trajectory that can be controlled during flight (guided missile)
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
mis•sile /ˈmɪsəl/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- an object or weapon propelled at a target, as a stone, bullet, etc.:Rocks, stones, and other flying missiles came down on their heads.
- Militarya rocket-propelled weapon:Missiles from both sides filled the air.
mis•sile
(mis′əl or, esp. Brit., -īl),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
- an object or weapon for throwing, hurling, or shooting, as a stone, bullet, or arrow.
- See guided missile.
- See ballistic missile.
adj.
- capable of being thrown, hurled, or shot, as from the hand or a gun.
- used or designed for discharging missiles.
- Latin, neuter of missilis, equivalent. to miss(us) (past participle of mittere to send, throw) + -ilis -ile
- 1600–10
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