Meaning & use
missile
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Meanings
nouncountable
A weapon that flies through the air to hit a target, especially a self-propelled guided one.
Grammar: Countable; often used with 'launch', 'fire', or 'guide'.
Patterns
- launch a missile
- fire a missile
- a missile attack
The army launched a missile at the enemy base.
The defense system can shoot down incoming missiles.
Talks aimed at limiting missile production ended without agreement.
nouncountableformal
Any object thrown or shot through the air to hit something.
Grammar: Countable; often used in formal or historical contexts.
Patterns
- throw a missile
- a missile of some kind
The protesters threw missiles such as stones and bottles at the police.
In ancient warfare, a simple missile like a rock could be deadly.
Word forms
| plural | missiles |
|---|
Common combinations
- guided missile
- The ship was hit by a guided missile.
- nuclear missile
- The country tested a new nuclear missile.
- missile attack
- The city suffered a missile attack last night.
- launch a missile
- They launched a missile from a mobile launcher.
- missile defense
- The government invested in missile defense systems.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rocket
- A rocket is often unguided or used for space travel, while a missile is usually a guided weapon.
- projectile
- Projectile is a general term for any object thrown or fired, including bullets and stones; missile is more specific to weapons or thrown objects.
Word family
- missilery noun
- Missiles collectively, or the science of missiles.
Commonly confused: missile or missile?
missile vs missile
Not to be confused with 'missal', a book of prayers used in church services.
Practice
The navy fired a ______ at the target ship during the exercise.
Choose one answer.
A missile is a weapon fired at a target. A missal is a prayer book, misshape is a deformed shape, and mishap is an accident, so none fit the military context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “missile”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.