Definition of catapults Catapults

/kæˈtʌpʌlts/ - [katupults] -

We found 3 definitions of catapults from 2 different sources.

What does catapults mean?

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Noun Plural: catapults
catapult - a device that launches aircraft from a warship
		launcher
		device any clever maneuver; "he would stoop to any device to win a point"; "it was a great sales gimmick"; "a cheap promotions gimmick for greedy businessmen"
catapult - an engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles
		arbalest, arbalist, ballista, bricole, mangonel, onager, trebuchet, trebucket
		engine motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
catapult - a plaything consisting of a Y-shaped stick with elastic between the arms; used to propel small stones
		slingshot, sling
		plaything, toy an artifact designed to be played with
Verb catapults, catapulting, catapulted
catapult - shoot forth or launch, as if from a catapult; "the enemy catapulted rocks towards the fort"
		impel, propel urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate
catapult - hurl as if with a sling
		sling
		hurl, hurtle, cast utter with force; utter vehemently; "hurl insults"; "throw accusations at someone"

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catapult (Noun)
A device or weapon for throwing or launching large objects, such as a mechanical aid on aircraft carrier s designed to help airplanes take off from the flight deck .
catapult (Noun)
slingshot.
catapult (Noun)
An instance of firing a missile from a catapult.
catapult (Noun)
An instance of firing something, as if from a catapult.
catapult (Verb)
To fire a missile from a catapult.
catapult (Verb)
To fire or launch something, as if from a catapult.
catapult (Verb)
To increase the status of something rapidly.
catapult (Verb)
To be fired from a catapult or as if from a catapult.
catapult (Verb)
To have one's status increased rapidly.

catapult (n.)
An engine somewhat resembling a massive crossbow, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for throwing stones, arrows, spears, etc.
catapult (n.)
A forked stick with elastic band for throwing small stones, etc.

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.]

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

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.

A catapult is a type of machine used as a weapon to shoot rocks or other things that would cause damage to something else. Catapults use weights and levers to send the rocks or other things into the air. They are simpler than other weapons more commonly used now and were more commonly used for war in the past, especially the Middle Ages. Nowadays catapults are used to study old weapons and by people that want to experience older war methods.

Sometimes, instead of rocks, pitch or hot tar would be thrown into the air to cause damage by setting the target on fire. Often catapults were set on higher ground or on castle towers to allow shooting more distance. They were also used to shoot rocks to break castle walls.