資料來源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Torpedo \Tor*pe"do\, n.; pl. {Torpedoes}. [L. torpedo, -inis,
from torpere to be stiff, numb, or torpid. See {Torpid}.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) 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}.
Note: The common European torpedo ({T. vulgaris}) and the
American species ({T. occidentalis}) are the best
known.
2. An engine or machine for destroying ships by blowing them
up. Specifically:
(a) A quantity of explosives anchored in a channel,
beneath the water, or set adrift in a current, and so
arranged that they will be exploded when touched by a
vessel, or when an electric circuit is closed by an
operator on shore.
(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.
3. (Mil.) A kind of shell or cartridge buried in earth, to be
exploded by electricity or by stepping on it.
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.
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.
6. A kind of firework in the form of a small ball, or pellet,
which explodes when thrown upon a hard object.
{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.
資料來源 : WordNet®
torpedo
v : attack or hit with torpedoes
[also: {torpedoes} (pl)]
torpedo
n 1: a professional killer who uses a gun [syn: {gunman}, {gunslinger},
{hired gun}, {gun}, {gun for hire}, {triggerman}, {hit
man}, {hitman}, {shooter}]
2: 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}, {wedge}, {zep}]
3: 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)
4: a small firework that consists of a percussion cap and some
gravel wrapped in paper; explodes when thrown forcefully
against a hard surface
5: 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
6: armament consisting of a long cylindrical self-propelled
underwater projectile that detonates on contact with a
target
7: 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}]
[also: {torpedoes} (pl)]
torpedoes
See {torpedo}