Library / English Dictionary

TORPEDO

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: torpedoes   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any sluggish bottom-dwelling ray of the order Torpediniformes having a rounded body and electric organs on each side of the head capable of emitting strong electric discharges

Synonyms:

crampfish; electric ray; numbfish; torpedo

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

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

ray (cartilaginous fishes having horizontally flattened bodies and enlarged winglike pectoral fins with gills on the underside; most swim by moving the pectoral fins)

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

family Torpedinidae; Torpedinidae (electric rays)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Armament consisting of a long cylindrical self-propelled underwater projectile that detonates on contact with a target

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

armament (weaponry used by military or naval force)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "torpedo"):

aerial torpedo (a torpedo designed to be launched from an airplane)

bangalore torpedo (a metal pipe filled with explosive, used to detonate land mines or to clear a path through barbed wire)

homing torpedo (a torpedo that is guided to its target (as by the sound of a ship's engines))

submarine torpedo (a torpedo designed to be launched from a submarine)

Derivation:

torpedo (attack or hit with torpedoes)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A small explosive device that is placed on a railroad track and fires when a train runs over it; the sound of the explosion warns the engineer of danger ahead

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

explosive device (device that bursts with sudden violence from internal energy)

alarm; alarum; alert; warning signal (an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A small firework that consists of a percussion cap and some gravel wrapped in paper; explodes when thrown forcefully against a hard surface

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

firework; pyrotechnic ((usually plural) a device with an explosive that burns at a low rate and with colored flames; can be used to illuminate areas or send signals etc.)

Sense 5

Meaning:

An explosive device that is set off in an oil well (or a gas well) to start or to increase the flow of oil (or gas)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

explosive device (device that bursts with sudden violence from internal energy)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States

Synonyms:

bomber; Cuban sandwich; grinder; hero; hero sandwich; hoagie; hoagy; Italian sandwich; poor boy; sub; submarine; submarine sandwich; torpedo; wedge; zep

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

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

sandwich (two (or more) slices of bread with a filling between them)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A professional killer who uses a gun

Synonyms:

gun; gun for hire; gunman; gunslinger; hired gun; hit man; hitman; shooter; torpedo; triggerman

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

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

liquidator; manslayer; murderer (a criminal who commits homicide (who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being))

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Attack or hit with torpedoes

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

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

assail; attack (launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

torpedo (armament consisting of a long cylindrical self-propelled underwater projectile that detonates on contact with a target)

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