Catapult/ˈkætəpʌlt/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Historical Usage Often associated with medieval and ancient warfare. Museums display catapults as part of their medieval exhibits. Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorical Use Can be used metaphorically to describe rapid events. The invention catapulted humanity into a new era. Pro Tip 3/3Physical Object Refers to a physical structure, not a figurative concept. They built a catapult for the science competition.