/ tɔːˈpiːdəʊ; NAmE tɔːrˈpiːdoʊ/ noun , verb
■ noun
( pl. -oes ) a long narrow bomb that is fired under the water from a ship or submarine and that explodes when it hits a ship, etc.
■ verb ( tor·pe·does , tor·pe·do·ing , tor·pe·doed , tor·pe·doed ) [ vn ]
1.
to attack a ship or make it sink using a torpedo
2.
to completely destroy the possibility that sth could succeed :
Her comments had torpedoed the deal.
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent. (originally referring to an electric ray): from Latin , literally stiffness, numbness , by extension electric ray (which gives a shock causing numbness), from torpere be numb or sluggish. The noun sense dates from the late 18th cent. and first described a timed explosive device for detonation under water.