ballistics
ballistics Lexical Profile
ballistics Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The science or study of the motion, behavior, and flight dynamics of projectiles, such as rockets, satellites, or shells.
"Engineers in the aerospace program applied advanced principles of ballistics to calculate the spacecraft's atmospheric entry path."
The forensic analysis and comparison of firearms, ammunition, and projectile markings used in legal investigations.
"The forensic laboratory sent the recovered evidence to the ballistics department for microscopic comparison."
The specific flight characteristics or performance properties of a projectile in motion.
"Wind tunnel testing helped the researchers understand the complex ballistics of the newly designed weather probe."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the scientific discipline, 'ballistics' takes a singular verb (e.g., 'ballistics is a complex field'), whereas when referring to specific flight characteristics or forensic test results, it often takes a plural verb (e.g., 'the ballistics of the two samples match').
• Rhymes for ballistics
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-18th century from the adjective 'ballistic', which derives from Latin 'ballista' (an ancient siege engine for hurling stones) and ultimately from Ancient Greek 'ballein', meaning 'to throw'.