■ noun ( plural ~es )
1》 a cigar-shaped self-propelled underwater missile designed to be fired from a ship, submarine, or an aircraft and to explode on reaching a target.
2》 US a railway fog signal.
3》 US a firework exploding on impact with a hard surface.
4》 (also ~ ray ) an electric ray.
■ verb ( ~es , ~ing , ~ed )
1》 attack with a ~ or ~es.
2》 ruin (a plan or project).
Derivatives
~-like adjective
Origin
C16: from L., lit. 'stiffness, numbness', by extension 'electric ray' (which gives a shock causing numbness).