1. an object which is forcibly propelled at a target, either by hand or from a mechanical weapon: "one of the players was hit on the head by a missile thrown by a spectator"
▪ a weapon that is self-propelled or directed by remote control, carrying conventional or nuclear explosive:"the plane disintegrated after being hit by a missile launched from the ground"
Word Originearly 17th century (as an adjective in the sense ‘suitable for throwing (at a target’)): from Latin missile, neuter (used as a noun) of missilis, from miss- ‘sent’, from the verb mittere.
