Word
harpoon
Phoneticshar·poon, stress on the second syllable
US/hɑɹˈpun/
UK/hɑːpˈuːn/
Definitions
01hunting weapon
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a long weapon like a spear with a hook at the end, used for catching whales and large fish.
n. a spear-like missile with a barbed head used for capturing whales and other large sea creatures, typically attached to a rope.
“The sailors prepared the harpoon as the whale surfaced near the boat.”
“Historical maritime museums often display the heavy iron harpoons used by nineteenth-century whalers before the invention of explosive-tipped versions.”
02to strike with a spear
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to hit or catch something using a harpoon.
v. to strike, catch, or kill a marine animal with a harpoon. Transitive use requiring a direct object.
“The fisherman managed to harpoon a large tuna just before it swam away.”
“The documentary crew captured the moment the traditional hunters successfully harpooned their prey using techniques passed down through generations.”
03harmonica
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Music Slang · Informal
n. a slang word for a harmonica, which is a small musical instrument you blow into.
n. a colloquial term for a harmonica, frequently used in the context of blues or folk music.
“He pulled a harpoon out of his pocket and started playing a blues song.”
“The lead singer was known for his soulful solos on the harpoon, which added a gritty texture to the band's acoustic sets.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Old French harpon, from Latin harpaga, a rare variant of Latin harpagō, from Ancient Greek ἁρπάγη (harpágē, “hook”), from ἁρπάζω (harpázō, “to snatch away, to carry off, to seize, to captivate”). Sense and spelling perhaps influenced by Dutch harpoen (“harpoon”). Doublet of harpagon.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/harpoon