First Known Use: circa 1520
Dictionary
1torpedo
noun tor·pe·do \tȯr-ˈpē-(ˌ)dō\
: a bomb that is shaped like a tube and that is fired underwater
plural tor·pe·does
Full Definition of TORPEDO
1
2
: a weapon for destroying ships by rupturing their hulls below the waterline: as a : a submarine mine b : a thin cylindrical self-propelled underwater projectile
3
: a small firework that explodes when thrown against a hard object
4
: a professional gunman or assassin
5
: submarine 2
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Origin of TORPEDO
Latin, literally, stiffness, numbness, from torpēre to be sluggish or numb — more at torpid
Related to TORPEDO
- Synonyms
- Cuban sandwich, grinder, hero, hoagie (also hoagy), Italian sandwich, po'boy (also poor boy), sub, submarine
2torpedo
transitive verb
: to hit or sink (a ship) with a torpedo
: to destroy or stop (something) completely
tor·pe·doedtor·pe·do·ing \-ˈpē-də-wiŋ\
Full Definition of TORPEDO
1
: to hit or sink (a ship) with a naval torpedo : strike or destroy by torpedo
2
: to destroy or nullify altogether : wreck <torpedo a plan>
First Known Use of TORPEDO
circa 1879
TORPEDO[1] Defined for Kids
1torpedo
noun tor·pe·do \tȯr-ˈpē-dō\
plural tor·pe·does
Definition of TORPEDO for Kids
: a long narrow self-propelled underwater weapon used for blowing up ships
Word History of TORPEDO
In 1776, David Bushnell, a supporter of the American cause in the Revolutionary War, built a wooden submarine with a detachable container of gunpowder that could be hooked to an enemy ship and set to explode after the submarine steered clear. Bushnell is believed to have dubbed the container with the Latin word torpedo, “electric ray,” that is, a fish that delivers an electric shock. Though Bushnell's submarine and explosive device never damaged a British vessel, the name torpedo was later applied to modern weapons used to attack ships.
2torpedo
verb
tor·pe·doedtor·pe·do·ing
Definition of TORPEDO for Kids
: to hit with or destroy by a torpedo
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