# catapult

Pronunciation: US say "KAT-uh-pult" /ˈkæ.tə.pʌlt/; UK

## Noun

1. A device or weapon that hurls large objects across a distance.
   - Simple: A machine that throws large objects through the air with force.
   - _Medieval armies used a catapult to hurl stones at fortified walls._
   - _The museum displayed a reconstructed catapult from the Roman era._
4. A handheld Y-shaped frame with an elastic band, used to shoot small stones or pellets. *(UK)*
   - Simple: A small Y-shaped stick with an elastic band, used to shoot stones.
   - _He pulled back the catapult and sent a pebble flying across the garden._
   - _Village children would hunt birds with a homemade catapult._
5. A mechanical device on an aircraft carrier that accelerates airplanes to takeoff speed along the flight deck.
   - Simple: A machine on a warship that helps planes speed up enough to take off.
   - _The carrier's steam catapult hurled the fighter off the bow in seconds._
   - _Deck crews secured the aircraft to the catapult before launch._
9. A single instance of being launched forward or upward, as if shot from a throwing engine.
   - Simple: A sudden event that quickly throws someone or something forward or upward.
   - _The merger served as a catapult into markets the company had never reached._
   - _His debut album was the catapult that carried him from clubs to stadiums._
10. A single discharge of a missile from a siege engine or throwing weapon.
   - Simple: A single act of shooting a missile from a war machine.
   - _The opening catapult of the assault demolished the gatehouse._
   - _After the third catapult, the defenders' wall began to crumble._

## Verb

2. To raise something's status or position rapidly and dramatically.
   - Simple: To quickly raise something to a much higher level or position.
   - _The award catapulted the young director into the international spotlight._
   - _A single bestseller can catapult a writer to the top of the industry._
3. To launch or hurl something forcefully through the air.
   - Simple: To throw or launch something through the air with great force.
   - _The crew catapulted supplies across the ravine using a makeshift launcher._
   - _Engineers designed a device to catapult water balloons over the wall._
6. To launch a missile or projectile from a siege engine or similar throwing device.
   - Simple: To shoot a heavy object from a war machine that flings things.
   - _The defenders catapulted flaming rocks at the advancing army._
   - _Engineers rebuilt the engine so it could catapult heavier stones._
7. To rise rapidly in status, fame, or position.
   - Simple: To rise quickly to a much higher level or position.
   - _The novel catapulted onto every bestseller list within a week._
   - _Few performers catapult to international fame so quickly._
8. To be launched or thrown forcefully through the air, as if shot from a throwing engine.
   - Simple: To be thrown through the air with great force.
   - _The cyclist catapulted over the fence when the front wheel jammed._
   - _Passengers can catapult forward if a vehicle stops suddenly without restraints._

## Origin

From Middle French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, from Ancient Greek katapéltēs, formed from katá ("downwards, against") plus pállō ("I poise or sway a missile before it is thrown").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/catapult (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).