tor|pe|do

tor|pe|do «tr PEE doh», noun, plural -does, verb, -doed, -do|ing.

–n.

1. a large, cigar-shaped shell that contains explosives and travels through water by its own power. Torpedoes are sent under water from a submarine, surface vessel, or low-flying aircraft to blow up enemy ships.

2. an underwater mine, shell, or other device that explodes when hit.

3. an explosive device put on a railroad track that makes a loud noise for a signal when a wheel of the engine runs over it.

4. a firework consisting of an explosive and gravel wrapped in thin paper. It makes a bang when it is thrown against something hard. »

Children used to play with torpedoes on the Fourth of July.

5. U.S. an explosive enclosed in a tube and set off in an oil well to renew or increase the flow.

6. U.S. (formerly in military use) any one of various encased charges of explosive, especially an underground mine.

7. a fish that can give an electric shock; electric ray.

8. Slang. a hired gunman.

9. U.S. Slang. hero sandwich.

–v.t.

1. to attack, hit, or destroy with a torpedo or torpedoes.

2. to set off a torpedo in or against.

3. Figurative. to bring completely to an end; destroy: »

to torpedo a peace conference.

ety>[< Latin torpēdō the electric ray (a fish); (originally) numbness (because of the ray's effect)

╂< torpēre be numb or torpid]

–tor|pe´do|like´, adjective.