资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Torpedo \Tor*pe"do\, n.; pl. {Torpedoes}. [L. torpedo, -inis,
   from torpere to be stiff, numb, or torpid. See {Torpid}.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of elasmobranch
      fishes belonging to {Torpedo} and allied genera. They are
      related to the rays, but have the power of giving
      electrical shocks. Called also {crampfish}, and
      {numbfish}. See {Electrical fish}, under {Electrical}.

   Note: The common European torpedo ({T. vulgaris}) and the
         American species ({T. occidentalis}) are the best
         known.

   2. An engine or machine for destroying ships by blowing them
      up. Specifically:
      (a) A quantity of explosives anchored in a channel,
          beneath the water, or set adrift in a current, and so
          arranged that they will be exploded when touched by a
          vessel, or when an electric circuit is closed by an
          operator on shore.
      (b) A kind of small submarine boat carrying an explosive
          charge, and projected from a ship against another ship
          at a distance, or made self-propelling, and otherwise
          automatic in its action against a distant ship.

   3. (Mil.) A kind of shell or cartridge buried in earth, to be
      exploded by electricity or by stepping on it.

   4. (Railroad) A kind of detonating cartridge or shell placed
      on a rail, and exploded when crushed under the locomotive
      wheels, -- used as an alarm signal.

   5. An explosive cartridge or shell lowered or dropped into a
      bored oil well, and there exploded, to clear the well of
      obstructions or to open communication with a source of
      supply of oil.

   6. A kind of firework in the form of a small ball, or pellet,
      which explodes when thrown upon a hard object.

   {Fish torpedo}, a spindle-shaped, or fish-shaped,
      self-propelling submarine torpedo.

   {Spar torpedo}, a canister or other vessel containing an
      explosive charge, and attached to the end of a long spar
      which projects from a ship or boat and is thrust against
      an enemy's ship, exploding the torpedo.

   {Torpedo boat}, a vessel adapted for carrying, launching,
      operating, or otherwise making use of, torpedoes against
      an enemy's ship.

资料来源 : WordNet®

torpedo
     v : attack or hit with torpedoes
     [also: {torpedoes} (pl)]

torpedo
     n 1: a professional killer who uses a gun [syn: {gunman}, {gunslinger},
           {hired gun}, {gun}, {gun for hire}, {triggerman}, {hit
          man}, {hitman}, {shooter}]
     2: a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise
        and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and
        lettuce and condiments); different names are used in
        different sections of the United States [syn: {bomber}, {grinder},
         {hero}, {hero sandwich}, {hoagie}, {hoagy}, {Cuban
        sandwich}, {Italian sandwich}, {poor boy}, {sub}, {submarine},
         {submarine sandwich}, {wedge}, {zep}]
     3: an explosive device that is set off in an oil well (or a gas
        well) to start or to increase the flow of oil (or gas)
     4: a small firework that consists of a percussion cap and some
        gravel wrapped in paper; explodes when thrown forcefully
        against a hard surface
     5: a small explosive device that is placed on a railroad track
        and fires when a train runs over it; the sound of the
        explosion warns the engineer of danger ahead
     6: armament consisting of a long cylindrical self-propelled
        underwater projectile that detonates on contact with a
        target
     7: any sluggish bottom-dwelling ray of the order
        Torpediniformes having a rounded body and electric organs
        on each side of the head capable of emitting strong
        electric discharges [syn: {electric ray}, {crampfish}, {numbfish}]
     [also: {torpedoes} (pl)]

torpedoes
     See {torpedo}