catapult

Meaning

Noun

1. A device or weapon for throwing or launching large objects.
2. A mechanical aid on aircraft carriers designed to help airplanes take off from the flight deck.
3. A slingshot.
4. An instance of firing a missile from a catapult.
5. An instance of firing something, as if from a catapult.

Verb

1. To fire a missile from a catapult.
2. To fire or launch something, as if from a catapult.
3. To increase the status of something rapidly.
4. To be fired from a catapult or as if from a catapult.
5. To have one's status increased rapidly.

Hyphenated as

cat‧a‧pult

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkæ.tə.pʌlt/

Etymology

From Middle French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, from Ancient Greek καταπέλτης (katapéltēs), from κατά (katá, “downwards, into, against”) + πάλλω (pállō, “I poise or sway a missile before it is thrown”). Doublet of catapulta.