I. cat ‧ a ‧ pult 1 /ˈkætəpʌlt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: catapulta , from Greek katapaltes , from kata- ( ⇨ ↑ cataclysm ) + pallein 'to throw strongly' ]
1 . a large weapon used in former times to throw heavy stones, iron balls etc
2 . British English a small stick in the shape of a Y with a thin rubber band fastened over the two ends, used by children to throw stones SYN slingshot American English
3 . a piece of equipment used to send an aircraft into the air from a ship
II. catapult 2 BrE AmE verb
1 . [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to push or throw something very hard so that it moves through the air very quickly:
Sam was catapulted into the air by the force of the blast.
2 . catapult somebody to fame/stardom etc to suddenly make someone very famous:
A remarkable series of events catapulted her into the limelight.