torpedo

 
Pronunciation: /tɔːˈpiːdəʊ/

noun (plural torpedoes)

  • 1a cigar-shaped self-propelled underwater missile designed to be fired from a ship or submarine or dropped into the water from an aircraft and to explode on reaching a target.
  • US a firework that explodes on impact with a hard surface.
  • 2US a railway fog signal.
  • 3 (also torpedo ray) an electric ray.

verb (torpedoes, torpedoing, torpedoed)

[with object]
  • attack or sink (a ship) with a torpedo or torpedoes: the liner was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine
  • destroy or ruin (a plan or project): fighting between the militias torpedoed peace talks

Derivatives

torpedo-like

adjective

Origin:

early 16th century (in torpedo (sense 3 of the noun)): from Latin, literally 'stiffness, numbness', by extension 'electric ray' (which gives a shock causing numbness), from torpere 'be numb or sluggish'. torpedo (sense 1 of the noun) dates from the late 18th century and first described a timed explosive device for detonation under water

Spelling help

The plural of torpedo is made by adding -es: torpedoes.