catapult

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈkætəpʌlt/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈkætəˌpʌlt, -ˌpʊlt/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(kat′ə pult′, -pŏŏlt′)

cat•a•pult /ˈkætəˌpʌlt, -ˌpʊlt/USA pronunciation n. [countable]

Militaryan ancient military engine for hurling heavy stones, etc.
Brit. slingshot.
Military, Aeronauticsa device for launching an airplane from the deck of a ship.

Militaryto hurl or be hurled from or as if from a catapult: [~ + object]The crash catapulted her right through the windshield.[no object]The plane catapulted off the deck and into the air.
to move quickly, suddenly, or forcibly: [~ + object]His first album catapulted him to fame.[no object]She catapulted into first place in figure skating.

cat•a•pult (kat′ə pult′, -pŏŏlt′),USA pronunciation n.

Militaryan ancient military engine for hurling stones, arrows, etc.
Military, Aeronauticsa device for launching an airplane from the deck of a ship.
British Termsa slingshot.

v.t.

Militaryto hurl from a catapult.
to thrust or move quickly or suddenly:His brilliant performance in the play catapulted him to stardom.
British Terms
- to hurl (a missile) from a slingshot.
- to hit (an object) with a missile from a slingshot.

v.i.

to be catapulted.
to move or spring up suddenly, quickly, or forcibly, as if by means of a catapult:The car catapulted down the highway. When he heard the alarm he catapulted out of bed.

Greek katapéltēs, equivalent. to kata- cata- + péltēs hurler, akin to pállein to hurl
Latin catapulta
1570–80

cat′a•pul′tic, adj.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

catapult /ˈkætəˌpʌlt/ n

a Y-shaped implement with a loop of elastic fastened to the ends of the two prongs, used mainly by children for shooting small stones, etcUS and Canadian name: slingshot
a heavy war engine used formerly for hurling stones, etc
a device installed in warships to launch aircraft

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin catapulta, from Greek katapeltēs, from kata- down + pallein to hurl

'catapult' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "catapult" in the title:

catapult
catapult (figurative?)
catapult / slingshot
catapult / slingshot (AmE)
catapult into the pension funds of Britain’s retirees
Catapult Vs. Catapult out

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