Meaning

A spherical projectile fired from a smoothbore cannon..

Definitions by Sense

1. A spherical projectile fired from a smoothbore cannon.
2. An explosive-filled hollow iron sphere fused through a hole and intended to explode at a calculated distance rather than explode on impact.
3. (diving) The act of jumping (typically into a swimming pool) with the legs bent and the arms wrapped around the knees to create a large splash, mimicking the flight and shape of a cannonball.
4. (slang, figuratively) Something that moves fast, especially a fast train.
5. (tennis) A served ball that travels with great speed and describes little or no arc in flight.
6. (intransitive) To jump or dive into water, performing a cannonball landing.
7. (intransitive) To career; to move rapidly.

Example Sentences

The New Yorker, 30 August 2004, p.40

The cannonball could be called the S.U.V. of the pool — oversized, brash, hormonally hardwired.

Meetings of the model train club always begin with the song "Wabash Cannonball".

He cannonballed into the pool, drenching us all.

The car cannonballed past.

Word Forms

• cannonballs
• cannonballing
• cannonballed

Synonyms for cannonball

Related Words

When Should You Use Cannonball?

Use cannonball when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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