Definitions for catapult
ˈkæt əˌpʌlt, -ˌpʊltcat·a·pult

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.6 / 5 votes

1. slingshot, sling, catapultnoun

   a plaything consisting of a Y-shaped stick with elastic between the arms; used to propel small stones

2. catapult, launchernoun

   a device that launches aircraft from a warship

3. catapult, arbalest, arbalist, ballista, bricole, mangonel, onager, trebuchet, trebucketverb

   an engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles

4. catapultverb

   shoot forth or launch, as if from a catapult

   "the enemy catapulted rocks towards the fort"

5. sling, catapultverb

   hurl as if with a sling

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.5 / 2 votes

1. catapultnoun

   A device or weapon for throwing or launching large objects, such as a mechanical aid on aircraft carriers designed to help airplanes take off from the flight deck.

2. catapultnoun

   slingshot

3. catapultnoun

   An instance of firing a missile from a catapult.

4. catapultnoun

   An instance of firing something, as if from a catapult.

5. catapultverb

   To fire a missile from a catapult.

6. catapultverb

   To fire or launch something, as if from a catapult.

7. catapultverb

   To increase the status of something rapidly.

   The candidate selection for running mate has catapulted her to the national scene.

8. catapultverb

   To be fired from a catapult or as if from a catapult.

9. catapultverb

   To have one's status increased rapidly.

   She catapulted to the national scene following her selection by the candidate.

10. Etymology: From catapulta, from καταπέλτης, from κατά + πάλλω.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Catapultnoun

   An engine used anciently to throw stones.

   Etymology: catapulta, Lat.

   The balista violently shot great stones and quarrels, as also the catapults. William Camden, Remains.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Catapult

   A catapult is a ballistic device used to launch a projectile a great distance without the aid of gunpowder or other propellants – particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. A catapult uses the sudden release of stored potential energy to propel its payload. Most convert tension or torsion energy that was more slowly and manually built up within the device before release, via springs, bows, twisted rope, elastic, or any of numerous other materials and mechanisms. In use since ancient times, the catapult has proven to be one of the most persistently effective mechanisms in warfare. In modern times the term can apply to devices ranging from a simple hand-held implement (also called a "slingshot") to a mechanism for launching aircraft from a ship. The earliest catapults date to at least the 7th century BC, with King Uzziah, of Judah, recorded as equipping the walls of Jerusalem with machines that shot "great stones". Catapults are mentioned in Yajurveda under the name "Jyah" in chapter 30, verse 7. In the 5th century BC the mangonel appeared in ancient China, a type of traction trebuchet and catapult. Early uses were also attributed to Ajatashatru of Magadha in his, 5th century BC, war against the Licchavis. Greek catapults were invented in the early 4th century BC, being attested by Diodorus Siculus as part of the equipment of a Greek army in 399 BC, and subsequently used at the siege of Motya in 397 BC.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. catapult

   A catapult is a medieval siege weapon or launching device that uses tension or stored energy to hurl projectiles over long distances. In some modern context, it can also refer to any machine that is used to launch an object forcefully.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Catapultnoun

   an engine somewhat resembling a massive crossbow, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for throwing stones, arrows, spears, etc

2. Catapultnoun

   a forked stick with elastic band for throwing small stones, etc

3. Etymology: [L. catapulta, Gr. , prob. from kata` down + to shake, hurl.]

WikidataRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Catapult

   A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during warfare. The word 'catapult' comes from the Latin 'catapulta', which in turn comes from the Greek καταπέλτης, itself from, "downwards" + πάλλω, "to toss, to hurl". Catapults were invented by the ancient Greeks.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Catapult

   kat′a-pult, n. anciently an engine of war, resembling the ballista, for throwing stones, arrows, &c.: a small forked stick having an elastic string fixed to the two prongs, used by boys for throwing small stones.—adj. Catapul′tic.—n. Catapultier′. [L. catapulta—Gr. katapeltēs—kata, down, pallein, to throw.]

Dictionary of Military and Associated TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. catapult

   A structure which provides an auxiliary source of thrust to a missile or aircraft; must combine the functions of directing and accelerating the missile during its

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. catapult

   A military engine used by the ancients for throwing stones, spears, &c.

Military Dictionary and GazetteerRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. catapult

   (Lat. catapulta). An engine of war used by the ancients, somewhat resembling a cross-bow. In the catapult a string or rope, suddenly freed from great tension, gave a powerful impulse to an arrow placed in a groove. There were great catapults, fixed upon a scaffold with wheels, which were used in sieges, and small ones, carried in the hand, which were employed in the field.

Matched Categories

1. • Device
   • Hurl
   • Propel

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce catapult?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say catapult in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of catapult in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of catapult in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of catapult in a Sentence

1. Michael Slocum:

   This addition will catapult us to a leading market position in providing financial services to the healthcare sector.

2. Taz Tagore:

   We need a dream to catapult our kids, you need to care about something to make a contribution.

3. Jim Carrey:

   At that time there was a beam that could catapult people to the stars, and that was ‘ The Tonight Show, ’ we all gathered around the heat of that. … If Johnny liked me it meant something to me, that I ’m not only good at what I do but he thinks I ’m intelligent and likes to talk to me.

4. Shichang Zhang:

   Their sensing capability to danger is low, or they have been exhausted during mating, or just could not perform the catapult.

5. Sonia Martins:

   In a catapult, for the stone to go its farthest, it has to be pulled as far back as possible...if you're going through a tough time count it as joy cos that could be something to catapult you to the place u desire to be... #behopeful #itsallaboutperspective

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=catapult
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Catapult
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=catapult
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catapult
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catapult
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=catapult
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=catapult
9. ^ Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms
   https://www.tradoc.army.mil/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/AD1029823-DOD-Dictionary-of-Military-and-Associated-Terms-2017.pdf
10. ^ Dictionary of Nautical Terms
    https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/26000/pg26000-images.html#:~:text=catapult
11. ^ Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
    https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/59563/pg59563-images.html
12. ^ Usage in printed sources
    https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=catapult