ballistic
adjectiveattested in dialogue
- //bəˈlɪs.tɪk//
Of or relating to ballistics.
adjective
- 1
Of or relating to ballistics.
- 2
Of or relating to projectiles moving under their own momentum, aerodynamic drag, gravity, and sometimes rocket power, without significant lift.
Russia used its powerful hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile for a third time in Ukraine as part of a massive attack on Kyiv and its surrounding region that killed at least four people and injured about 100.
- 3
slangVery angry.
When he heard him lie about it, he went ballistic.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der. Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō Ancient Greek βᾰ́λλω (bắllō) Ancient Greek βαλλίστρᾱ (ballístrā)der. Latin ballista Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English ballistic From Latin ballista (“a military siege engine for throwing stones”) + -ic.
Forms
- comparative
- more ballistic
- superlative
- most ballistic