PROPEL

[verb] [T] -ll- - to cause something to move forwardsa rocket propelled grenadeThe Kon-Tiki sailed across the Pacific Ocean propelled by wind power.(figurative) Mr Jovis said that the country was being propelled (= pushed) towards civil war.(UK and ANZ) A propelling pencil (US mechanical pencil) is a pencil in which the lead (= part that writes) can be pushed forward by turning or pressing a part of the pencil.