Ballistic

Ballistic
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. frenzied; very angry; -- used mostly in the phrase

{go ballistic}. [Colloq.] [PJC]

{Ballistic pendulum}, an instrument consisting of a mass of wood or other material suspended as a pendulum, for measuring the force and velocity of projectiles by means of the arc through which their impact impels it. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • 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

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