- ballistic
- \ \ see PARABLE
Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
ballistic
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Ballistic — Bal*lis tic, a. 1. Of or pertaining to the ballista, or to the art of hurling stones or missile weapons by means of an engine. [1913 Webster] 2. Pertaining to ballistics[2], or to a projectile in a gravitational field. [1913 Webster +PJC] 3.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
ballistic — 1775, pertaining to thrown objects, ultimately from Gk. ballein to throw (see BALLISTICS (Cf. ballistics)). Of rockets or missiles (ones that are guided while under propulsion, but fall freely), from 1949. Ballistic missile first attested 1954;… … Etymology dictionary
ballistic — ► ADJECTIVE 1) relating to projectiles or their flight. 2) moving under the force of gravity only. ● go ballistic Cf. ↑go ballistic ORIGIN from Greek ballein to throw … English terms dictionary
ballistic — [bə lis′tik] adj. [< BALLISTA] 1. of or connected with ballistics 2. of the motion and force of projectiles ☆ go ballistic Informal to become so angry as to lose emotional control … English World dictionary
ballistic — [[t]bəlɪ̱stɪk[/t]] 1) ADJ: ADJ n Ballistic means relating to ballistics. ...ballistic missiles... Ballistic tests have matched the weapons with bullets taken from the bodies of victims. 2) PHRASE: V inflects If someone goes ballistic, they… … English dictionary
Ballistic — Filmdaten Deutscher Titel Ballistic Originaltitel Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever … Deutsch Wikipedia
ballistic — bal|lis|tic [bəˈlıstık] adj spoken [Date: 1900 2000; Origin: ballistic of ballistics (18 21 centuries), from Latin ballista weapon for throwing large rocks , from Greek, from ballein to throw ] go ballistic to suddenly become very angry ▪ I… … Dictionary of contemporary English
ballistic — /bəˈlɪstɪk / (say buh listik) adjective 1. of or relating to ballistics. 2. relating to projectiles. 3. relating to an instrument, as a ballistic galvanometer, for measuring the effect of a transient source of energy or an impact. 4. of or… …
ballistic — adjective Etymology: Latin ballista Date: circa 1775 1. of or relating to ballistics or to a body in motion according to the laws of ballistics 2. being or characterized by repeated bouncing < ballistic stretching > 3. extremely and … New Collegiate Dictionary
ballistic — ballistically, adv. /beuh lis tik/, adj. 1. of or pertaining to ballistics. 2. having its motion determined or describable by the laws of exterior ballistics. 3. go ballistic, Informal. to become overwrought or irrational: went ballistic over the … Universalium
ballistic — adj furious, uncontrollable. This use of the term, often in the phrase go ballistic , has become a common expression since the 1990s. It probably originated, unsurprisingly, in the slang of the armed forces, where it is still common. ► I totally… … Contemporary slang
