catapult

/ˈkæ.tə.pʌlt/

IPA: /K AE1 T AH0 P AH0 L T/

noun
  1. 1

    A device or weapon for throwing or launching large objects, such as a mechanical aid on aircraft carriers designed to help airplanes take off from the flight deck.

  2. 2

    Slingshot

  3. 3

    An instance of firing a missile from a catapult.

  4. 4

    An instance of firing something, as if from a catapult.

verb
  1. 1

    To fire a missile from a catapult.

  2. 2

    To fire or launch something, as if from a catapult.

  3. 3

    To increase the status of something rapidly.

    The candidate selection for running mate has catapulted her to the national scene.

  4. 4

    To be fired from a catapult or as if from a catapult.

  5. 5

    To have one's status increased rapidly.

    She catapulted to the national scene following her selection by the candidate.

Source: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/catapult