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Glite Dictionary
homing torpedo

homing torpedo

8.8
A weapon that finds and follows an enemy ship or submarine using sound
  • noun
  • /ˈhoʊmɪŋ tɔrˈpiːdoʊ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : torpedo guiado
  • Many homing torpedoes are designed to follow acoustic signals.

Examples

  • The navy deployed a homing torpedo to track the enemy submarine with remarkable precision.

  • A single homing torpedo was enough to force the vessel to change its course.

  • Advancements in technology have made the homing torpedo more effective at targeting ships in motion.

  • The navy deployed a homing torpedo to track the enemy submarine.

  • The navy deployed a homing torpedo to track the enemy submarine with remarkable precision.

  • Advancements in technology have made the homing torpedo more effective at targeting ships in motion.

  • A single homing torpedo was enough to force the vessel to change its course.

How Accurate

wire-guided torpedo
  • Specialized
8.6
homing torpedo
  • Specialized
8.8

Surface Forms

homing torpedo singular
homing torpedoes plural

Morphology

homing + torpedo

The meaning 'a torpedo that actively seeks or tracks its target' is directly built from 'homing' (able to locate/seek a target) + 'torpedo' (an underwater missile). This adjective+noun composition is transparent and follows common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Homing torpedo uses the idea of homing, like a pigeon that finds its way back home, to picture a torpedo that can find and follow a ship. That's why a homing torpedo means a torpedo that actively 'seeks' and 'follows' its 'target'.