Definition of catapult
1 : an ancient military device for hurling missiles
2 : a device for launching an airplane at flying speed (as from an aircraft carrier)
People Are Reading
Recent Examples of catapult from the Web
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But the technology, which includes electromagnetic catapults, the ability to launch a third more aircraft than older carriers and additional arresting gear, has caused some concerns in Washington.
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Hit or miss, someone's got to bring it back to the catapult for the next lucky player.
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When an aircraft is thrown off the deck by a steam catapult, the initial spike of pressure is at its greatest.
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At one point, the Moscow demonstration featured an unlikely scene of about 5,000 protesters rallying next to an enclosure with geese, a medieval catapult and bearded men in homemade tunics and carrying wooden shields.
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The decision to pursue immature catapult technology has been a boon to contractors, particularly San Diego-based General Atomics.
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The ropes and wooden base of the starting gate correspond with the development of the catapult, first mentioned in Athens in 355 BC.
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On the agenda: Water-ballon catapult contests, cake decorating, performances from singer Jess Glynne, ventriloquist Nina Conti and magician Lance Corporal Richard Jones, who won Britain's Got Talent last year.
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According to both Hendrix and the CRS report, the larger issue on the new carriers at this point is not the catapult, but the new advanced arresting gear system that catches planes as they land.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'catapult.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of catapult
Origin and Etymology of catapult
Medieval French or Latin; Medieval French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, from Greek katapaltēs, from kata- + pallein to hurl
catapult
Definition of catapult
transitive verb
: to throw or launch by or as if by a catapult
intransitive verb
: to become catapulted he catapulted to fame
Examples of catapult in a Sentence
They catapulted rocks toward the castle.
The publicity catapulted her CD to the top of the charts.
The novel catapulted him from unknown to best-selling author.
He catapulted to fame after his first book was published.
Her career was catapulting ahead.
Recent Examples of catapult from the Web
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Breaux's breakout 2015 season catapulted him into the top five of our player rankings last season.
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PSI’s innovative teaching methods are catapulting students to new levels of achievement.
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A Newsweek cover story last year investigated how the fight to end period shaming—and the work of policymakers and activists alike—had catapulted the issue into the mainstream.
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Porsche avers that the new GT2 RS will catapult to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and top out at an astronomical 211 mph.
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The cork catapulted through the air and the whole lobby cheered.
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For a time, its founder and CEO, Jenny Williamson of Granite Bay, was catapulted into celebrity orbit.
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About halfway through the novel, Roy catapults us from Anjum’s life to a seemingly unrelated one, that of a young woman named Tilo, also the product of an unorthodox upbringing.
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That catapulted Day into a big junior season and two dozen scholarship offers.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'catapult.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of catapult
1848
CATAPULT Defined for English Language Learners
catapult
playDefinition of catapult for English Language Learners
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: an ancient weapon used for throwing large rocks
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: a device for launching an airplane from the deck of an aircraft carrier
catapult
Definition of catapult for English Language Learners
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: to throw (something) with a catapult
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: to cause (someone or something) to quickly move up or ahead or to a better position
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: to quickly move up or ahead : to quickly advance to a better position
CATAPULT Defined for Kids
Definition of catapult for Students
1 : an ancient military machine for hurling stones and arrows
2 : a device for launching an airplane from the deck of a ship
Definition of catapult for Students
catapulted
;catapulting
1 : to throw by or as if by a catapult She catapulted herself out of the door. — Louise Fitzhugh, Harriet the Spy
2 : to quickly advance The movie role catapulted her to fame.
Learn More about catapult
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See words that rhyme with catapult Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for catapult Spanish Central: Translation of catapult Nglish: Translation of catapult for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of catapult for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catapult
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