missile

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A flying weapon that is powered and can be steered toward its target.

   The army fired a missile at the enemy base.

2. 2
   noun

   Any object thrown or shot through the air as a weapon, such as a stone or arrow.

   The crowd threw bottles and other missiles at the police.

From Latin missile (“thrown weapon, projectile”), neuter of missilis (“throwable, capable of being thrown”), from mittere (“to send”). From 1611. Compare Middle French missile (“projectile”), from 1636.

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