ballista (C2)

noun

Pronunciation: /bəˈlɪstə/

Definition

An ancient military siege engine used for launching large projectiles like stones or bolts with great force.

Examples

• The engineers spent weeks constructing a functional ballista to breach the fortress gates.

• Archaeologists discovered the remains of a rusted ballista near the site of the historical battlefield.

• During the demonstration, the reconstructed ballista successfully hurled a boulder across the training field.

How to Use ballista

operate a ballista (collocation)

to use or manage the machine — "It required a team of three soldiers to effectively operate a ballista."

fire a ballista (collocation)

to release the projectile — "The commander gave the signal to fire a ballista at the approaching cavalry."

Synonyms of ballista

Words with a similar meaning to ballista:

• catapult
• siege engine
• trebuchet
• onager

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