Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. An instrument of attack or defense in combat, as a gun, missile, or sword.
- n. Zoology A part or organ, such as a claw or stinger, used by an animal in attack or defense.
- n. A means used to defend against or defeat another: Logic was her weapon.
- v. To supply with weapons or a weapon; arm.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. Any instrument of offense; anything used, or designed to be used, in attacking an enemy, as a sword, a dagger, a club, a rifle, or a cannon.
- n. Any object, particular, or instrumentality that may be of service in a contest or struggle, or in resisting adverse circumstances, whether for offense or defense; anything that may figuratively be classed among arms.
- n. In zoology, any part or organ of the body which is or may be used as a means of attack or defense, as horns, hoofs, claws, spurs, stings, spines, teeth, electric organs, etc.; an arm or armature. Synonyms See
arm . - To arm with weapons.
Wiktionary
- n. an instrument of attack or defense in combat or hunting, e.g. a gun, missile, or sword
- n. an instrument or other means of harming or exerting control over another.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. An instrument of offensive of defensive combat; something to fight with; anything used, or designed to be used, in destroying, defeating, or injuring an enemy, as a gun, a sword, etc.
- n. Fig.: The means or instrument with which one contends against another.
- n. A thorn, prickle, or sting with which many plants are furnished.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a means of persuading or arguing
- n. any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
Etymologies
- Middle English wepen, from Old English wǣpen.
Examples
“Their main weapon is not the bombs and dead bodies – it is the FEAR.”
“Our main weapon is ARDA, which is a joint Federal and Provincial programme.”
“Alot of times the term weapon is used by people with a military or law enforcement background.”
Is it just me or does anyone else find it irritating when someone calls a gun a weapon?
“Your weapon is your power Colonel because you cant win a debate with your logic.”
“A race capable of interstellar travel should be experienced enough to know that possession of a weapon is the sign of an individual, not a herd animal.”
“ChrisTS says: possession of a weapon is the sign of an individual, not a herd animal”
“ChrisTS: ChrisTS says: possession of a weapon is the sign of an individual, not a herd animal”
“Actually this weapon is a joke considering what the founding fathers had compared to their enemies ...”
“I would suggest that using a knife as a weapon is a crime that deserves custody, not the simple and potentially harmless act of being caught with a knife in a public place.”
“Another problem I could forsee with trying to use this weapon is the target point.”

yarb That's weirdnet, Arkracer. Sep 14, 2008
arkracer That is an insane definition. Sep 14, 2008
widdershins My friend uses this as a badass exclamation e.g. "Dude that band was weapon!" Try it sometime - it's very satisfying. Oct 4, 2007