tor·pe·do
(tôr-pḗdō)
[Latin torpēdō, numbness; electric ray, crampfish, from torpēre, to be stiff.]
noun: pl., -does.
- A cigar-shaped, self-propelled underwater projectile launched from a submarine, aircraft, or ship and designed to detonate on contact with or in the vicinity of a target.
- Any of various submarine explosive devices, especially a submarine mine.
- A small explosive placed on a railroad track that is fired by the weight of the train to sound a warning of an approaching hazard.
- An explosive fired in an oil or gas well to begin or increase the flow.
- A small firework consisting of gravel wrapped in tissue paper with a percussion cap that explodes when thrown against a hard surface.
- See electric ray
- Slang A professional assassin or thug.
- Chiefly New Jersey See submarine
transitive verb: -doed, -do·ing, -does.
- To attack, strike, or sink with a torpedo.
- To destroy decisively; wreck: torpedo efforts at reform.
electric ray
noun
- Any of various tropical or subtropical marine fishes of the family Torpedinidae, having a rounded body and a pair of organs capable of producing an electric discharge, which is used to stun or kill prey. Also called crampfish, numbfish, torpedo
sub·ma·rine
(sŭb́mə-rēń, sŭb́mə-rēń)
noun
- Nautical A vessel that is capable of operating submerged. Also called sub1
- A large sandwich consisting of a long roll split lengthwise and filled with layers of meat, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and condiments. Also called sub1, also called regionally Cuban sandwich, grinder, hero, hoagie, Italian sandwich, poor boy, torpedo, wedge, zep
adjective
- Beneath the surface of the water; undersea.
verb: -rined, -rin·ing, -rines.
transitive verb
- To attack by submarine, especially with torpedoes.
- Sports To knock down with a blow to the legs.
- Baseball To pitch (a ball) with an underhand motion.
intransitive verb
- To slide, drive, or throw under something.
