Library / English Dictionary

HARPOON

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A spear with a shaft and barbed point for throwing; used for catching large fish or whales; a strong line is attached to it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("harpoon" is a kind of...):

fishgig; fizgig; gig; lance; spear (an implement with a shaft and barbed point used for catching fish)

Meronyms (parts of "harpoon"):

fluke (a barb on a harpoon or arrow)

harpoon line (a strong rope for making the catch fast to the harpooner's boat)

Holonyms ("harpoon" is a member of...):

fishing gear; fishing rig; fishing tackle; rig; tackle (gear used in fishing)

Derivation:

harpoon (spear with a harpoon)

harpooneer (someone who launches harpoons)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Spear with a harpoon

Example:

harpoon whales

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "harpoon" is one way to...):

catch; grab; take hold of (take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

harpoon (a spear with a shaft and barbed point for throwing; used for catching large fish or whales; a strong line is attached to it)

harpooner (someone who launches harpoons)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The amazing strength, the skill in the use of the harpoon, the rum and water, the sealskin tobacco-pouch with the coarse tobacco—all these pointed to a seaman, and one who had been a whaler.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)