catapult

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 (BrE) (AmE slingshot) a stick shaped like a Y with a rubber band attached to it, used by children for shooting stones 2 a weapon used in the past to throw heavy stones 3 a machine used for sending planes up into the air from a ship verb [+adv./prep.] to throw sb/sth or be thrown suddenly and violently through the air: [VN] She was catapulted out of the car as it hit the wall. * (figurative) The movie catapulted him to international stardom. [also V]