harpoon
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“The sailors prepared the harpoon as the whale surfaced near the boat.”
In context“Historical maritime museums often display the heavy iron harpoons used by nineteenth-century whalers before the invention of explosive-tipped versions.”
- 02 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.
Simple“The fisherman managed to harpoon a large tuna just before it swam away.”
In context“The documentary crew captured the moment the traditional hunters successfully harpooned their prey using techniques passed down through generations.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
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.
Simple“He pulled a harpoon out of his pocket and started playing a blues song.”
In context“The lead singer was known for his soulful solos on the harpoon, which added a gritty texture to the band's acoustic sets.”
Synonymsharmonicamouth organ
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.