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Definition of harpoon
harpoon
/hɑːrˈpuːn/
har · poon
Plural:harpoons
•Past Simple:harpooned
•Past Participle:harpooned
•Present Participle:harpooning
harpoon Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
harpoon Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A barbed, spear-like weapon attached to a long rope, historically and currently used for hunting whales and other large marine animals.
Example
"During the nineteenth century, sailors relied on a hand-thrown harpoon to secure their catch in the dangerous whaling industry."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for harpoon• verb
1
To strike, catch, or kill a large marine animal using a barbed spear attached to a rope.
Example
"The crew managed to harpoon the massive shark before it could capsize their small wooden boat."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for harpoon• Rhymes for harpoon
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the 17th-century French word 'harpon', originating from 'harpe' (a dog's claw or clamp), possibly tracing back to Latin 'harpa' (hook) or a Germanic source related to grappling.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Harpoon. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/harpoon