'Torpedo' definitions:

Definition of 'torpedo'

From: WordNet
noun
A professional killer who uses a gun [syn: gunman, gunslinger, hired gun, gun, gun for hire, triggerman, hit man, hitman, torpedo, shooter]
noun
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 [syn: bomber, grinder, hero, hero sandwich, hoagie, hoagy, Cuban sandwich, Italian sandwich, poor boy, sub, submarine, submarine sandwich, torpedo, wedge, zep]
noun
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)
noun
A small firework that consists of a percussion cap and some gravel wrapped in paper; explodes when thrown forcefully against a hard surface
noun
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
noun
Armament consisting of a long cylindrical self-propelled underwater projectile that detonates on contact with a target
noun
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 [syn: electric ray, crampfish, numbfish, torpedo]
verb
Attack or hit with torpedoes

Definition of 'Torpedo'

From: GCIDE
  • Torpedo \Tor*pe"do\, v. t.
  • 1. to destroy by, or subject to the action of, a torpedo. --London Spectator. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. [Fig.] To destroy, cause to halt, or prevent from being accomplished; -- used esp. with reference to a plan or an enterprise, halted by some action before the plan is put into execution. [PJC]

Definition of 'Torpedo'

From: GCIDE
  • Torpedo \Tor*pe"do\, n.; pl. Torpedoes. [L. torpedo, -inis, from torpere to be stiff, numb, or torpid. See Torpid.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of elasmobranch fishes belonging to Torpedo and allied genera. They are related to the rays, but have the power of giving electrical shocks. Called also crampfish, and numbfish. See Electrical fish, under Electrical. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: The common European torpedo (Torpedo vulgaris) and the American species (Torpedo occidentalis) are the best known. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. An engine or machine for destroying ships by blowing them up; a mine[4]. Specifically: [1913 Webster +PJC] (a) A quantity of explosives anchored in a channel, beneath the water, or set adrift in a current, and so designed that they will explode when touched or approached by a vessel, or when an electric circuit is closed by an operator on shore; now called {marine mine}. [obsolete] [1913 Webster +PJC]
  • Damn the torpedoes -- full speed ahead! --Adm. David Glasgow Farragut (At the battle of Mobile Bay, 1864). (b) A kind of small submarine boat carrying an explosive charge, and projected from a ship against another ship at a distance, or made self-propelling, and otherwise automatic in its action against a distant ship. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Mil.) A kind of shell or cartridge buried in earth, to be exploded by electricity or by stepping on it; now called land mine. [obsolete] [1913 Webster +PJC]
  • 4. (Railroad) A kind of detonating cartridge or shell placed on a rail, and exploded when crushed under the locomotive wheels, -- used as an alarm signal. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. An explosive cartridge or shell lowered or dropped into a bored oil well, and there exploded, to clear the well of obstructions or to open communication with a source of supply of oil. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. A kind of firework in the form of a small ball, or pellet, which explodes when thrown upon a hard object. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. An automobile with a torpedo body. [Archaic Cant] [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]
  • Fish torpedo, a spindle-shaped, or fish-shaped, self-propelling submarine torpedo.
  • Spar torpedo, a canister or other vessel containing an explosive charge, and attached to the end of a long spar which projects from a ship or boat and is thrust against an enemy's ship, exploding the torpedo.
  • Torpedo boat, a vessel adapted for carrying, launching, operating, or otherwise making use of, torpedoes against an enemy's ship., especially, a small, fast boat with tubes for launching torpedoes.
  • Torpedo nettings, nettings made of chains or bars, which can be suspended around a vessel and allowed to sink beneath the surface of the water, as a protection against torpedoes. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'torpedo'

From: GCIDE
  • hit man \hit man\ n.
  • 1. A professional murderer, esp. one working for a criminal organization; also called torpedo. [Colloq.] [PJC]
  • 2. A slanderer working for political purposes to damage the reputation of an opponent; a hatchet man. [PJC]

Definition of 'torpedo'

From: GCIDE
  • marine mine \ma*rine" mine`\, n. (Mil.) A military explosive device designed to be placed on or under the surface of a body of water, and to explode when ships pass nearby or come in contact with it. Its function is to destroy enemy ships or deny hostile naval forces access to certain areas of the sea, usually near the shoreline. Also called underwater mine and floating mine, and previously referred to as a torpedo (See torpedo[2] (a) ). [PJC]

Definition of 'torpedo'

From: GCIDE
  • Mine \Mine\, n. [F., fr. LL. mina. See Mine, v. i.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. A subterranean cavity or passage; especially: (a) A pit or excavation in the earth, from which metallic ores, precious stones, coal, or other mineral substances are taken by digging; -- distinguished from the pits from which stones for architectural purposes are taken, and which are called quarries. (b) (Mil.) A cavity or tunnel made under a fortification or other work, for the purpose of blowing up the superstructure with some explosive agent. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Any place where ore, metals, or precious stones are got by digging or washing the soil; as, a placer mine. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Fig.): A rich source of wealth or other good. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Mil.) An explosive device placed concealed in a location, on land or at sea, where an enemy vehicle or enemy personnel may pass through, having a triggering mechanism which detects people or vehicles, and which will explode and kill or maim personnel or destroy or damage vehicles. A mine placed at sea (formerly called a torpedo, see torpedo[2] (a) ) is also called an marine mine and underwater mine and sometimes called a floating mine, even though it may be anchored to the floor of the sea and not actually float freely. A mine placed on land (formerly called a torpedo, see torpedo[3]), usually buried, is called a land mine. [PJC]
  • Mine dial, a form of magnetic compass used by miners.
  • Mine pig, pig iron made wholly from ore; in distinction from cinder pig, which is made from ore mixed with forge or mill cinder.
  • gold mine (a) a mine where gold is obtained. (b) (Fig.) a rich source of wealth or other good; same as Mine 3. --Raymond. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'torpedo'

From: GCIDE
  • Mine \Mine\, n. [F., fr. LL. mina. See Mine, v. i.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. A subterranean cavity or passage; especially: (a) A pit or excavation in the earth, from which metallic ores, precious stones, coal, or other mineral substances are taken by digging; -- distinguished from the pits from which stones for architectural purposes are taken, and which are called quarries. (b) (Mil.) A cavity or tunnel made under a fortification or other work, for the purpose of blowing up the superstructure with some explosive agent. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Any place where ore, metals, or precious stones are got by digging or washing the soil; as, a placer mine. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Fig.): A rich source of wealth or other good. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Mil.) An explosive device placed concealed in a location, on land or at sea, where an enemy vehicle or enemy personnel may pass through, having a triggering mechanism which detects people or vehicles, and which will explode and kill or maim personnel or destroy or damage vehicles. A mine placed at sea (formerly called a torpedo, see torpedo[2] (a) ) is also called an marine mine and underwater mine and sometimes called a floating mine, even though it may be anchored to the floor of the sea and not actually float freely. A mine placed on land (formerly called a torpedo, see torpedo[3]), usually buried, is called a land mine. [PJC]
  • Mine dial, a form of magnetic compass used by miners.
  • Mine pig, pig iron made wholly from ore; in distinction from cinder pig, which is made from ore mixed with forge or mill cinder.
  • gold mine (a) a mine where gold is obtained. (b) (Fig.) a rich source of wealth or other good; same as Mine 3. --Raymond. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'torpedo'

From: GCIDE
  • Electric \E*lec"tric\ ([-e]*l[e^]k"tr[i^]k), Electrical \E*lec"tric*al\ ([-e]*l[e^]k"tr[i^]*kal), a. [L. electrum amber, a mixed metal, Gr. 'h`lektron; akin to 'hle`ktwr the beaming sun, cf. Skr. arc to beam, shine: cf. F. ['e]lectrique. The name came from the production of electricity by the friction of amber.]
  • 1. Pertaining to electricity; consisting of, containing, derived from, or produced by, electricity; as, electric power or virtue; an electric jar; electric effects; an electric spark; an electric charge; an electric current; an electrical engineer. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Capable of occasioning the phenomena of electricity; as, an electric or electrical machine or substance; an electric generator. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Electrifying; thrilling; magnetic. "Electric Pindar." --Mrs. Browning. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. powered by electricity; as, electrical appliances; an electric toothbrush; an electric automobile. [WordNet 1.5]
  • Electric atmosphere, or Electric aura. See under Aura.
  • Electrical battery. See Battery.
  • Electrical brush. See under Brush.
  • Electric cable. See Telegraph cable, under Telegraph.
  • Electric candle. See under Candle.
  • Electric cat (Zo["o]l.), one of three or more large species of African catfish of the genus Malapterurus (esp. {M. electricus} of the Nile). They have a large electrical organ and are able to give powerful shocks; -- called also sheathfish.
  • Electric clock. See under Clock, and see Electro-chronograph.
  • Electric current, a current or stream of electricity traversing a closed circuit formed of conducting substances, or passing by means of conductors from one body to another which is in a different electrical state.
  • Electric eel, or Electrical eel (Zo["o]l.), a South American eel-like fresh-water fish of the genus Gymnotus (G. electricus), from two to five feet in length, capable of giving a violent electric shock. See Gymnotus.
  • Electrical fish (Zo["o]l.), any fish which has an electrical organ by means of which it can give an electrical shock. The best known kinds are the torpedo, the gymnotus, or electrical eel, and the {electric cat}. See Torpedo, and Gymnotus.
  • Electric fluid, the supposed matter of electricity; lightning. [archaic]
  • Electrical image (Elec.), a collection of electrical points regarded as forming, by an analogy with optical phenomena, an image of certain other electrical points, and used in the solution of electrical problems. --Sir W. Thomson.
  • Electric machine, or Electrical machine, an apparatus for generating, collecting, or exciting, electricity, as by friction.
  • Electric motor. See Electro-motor, 2.
  • Electric osmose. (Physics) See under Osmose.
  • Electric pen, a hand pen for making perforated stencils for multiplying writings. It has a puncturing needle driven at great speed by a very small magneto-electric engine on the penhandle.
  • Electric railway, a railway in which the machinery for moving the cars is driven by an electric current.
  • Electric ray (Zo["o]l.), the torpedo.
  • Electric telegraph. See Telegraph. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'torpedo'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Torpedo'