ballistic missile

/bə'listik'misail/

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Explanation of "Ballistic Missile"

Definition:
A ballistic missile is a type of weapon that is launched into the air and travels in a curved path. It is guided at the beginning of its flight, but after reaching a certain point, it falls freely towards its target, much like a ball thrown in the air.

Usage Instructions

• Part of Speech: Noun
• Plural: Ballistic missiles
• Context: This term is often used in discussions about military, defense, and international relations.

Example Sentence

• "The country tested a new ballistic missile that can reach targets thousands of miles away."

Advanced Usage

In military and defense discussions, you might encounter terms like intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which refers to a ballistic missile with a long range that can travel between countries.

Word Variants

• Ballistic: This adjective describes anything related to projectiles or the flight of missiles.
• Missile: A general term for any weapon that is self-propelled or guided.

Different Meanings

• In a non-military context, "ballistic" can also mean "extremely angry" or "out of control" when referring to a person's behavior. For example:
  • "When he found out about the mistake, he went ballistic."

Synonyms

• Rocket: Often used interchangeably, but a rocket can refer to any vehicle powered by rocket engines, while a ballistic missile has specific characteristics.
• Projectile: A general term for any object that is thrown, fired, or otherwise propelled.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "ballistic missile," you might hear some related expressions in military contexts:

Summary

In summary, a ballistic missile is a specific type of guided weapon that travels in a curved path and falls freely towards its target.

Academic

Noun

1. a missile that is guided in the first part of its flight but falls freely as it approaches target