/ ˈmɪsaɪl; NAmE ˈmɪsl/ noun
1.
a weapon that is sent through the air and that explodes when it hits the thing that it is aimed at :
nuclear missiles
a missile base / site
—see also ballistic missile , cruise missile , guided missile
2.
an object that is thrown at sb to hurt them
SYN projectile
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent. (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 .