adjective
ballistic
buh-LIS-tik/bəˈlɪstɪk/
Relating to a projectile's flight or impact.
The ball follows a ballistic path from the launcher toward the sand tray.
Etymology
From “to throw,” ballistic first concerned thrown objects and later missiles. The extreme heights reached by ballistic missiles supplied the image behind “go ballistic”: becoming irrationally angry.
In context
When they brought him before the judge, the guy went ballistic. Took five court officers to restrain him.
More examples
- Engineers calculated the projectile's ballistic trajectory.
- The laboratory measures the ballistic impact of the projectile.
- The report compares ballistic performance across several protective materials.
Forms
ballistic
ballistics noun — The study of projectile motion and impact.
Similar words
- projectile-related
- States the physical connection more plainly but less compactly.
- furious
- Expresses the slang anger sense without the explosive metaphor.