Missile vs. Rocket — What's the Difference?

A weapon designed to be guided to a specific target.

A vehicle propelled by ejecting mass to gain thrust.

Incorporates guidance systems for accuracy.

A rocket (from Italian: rocchetto, lit. 'bobbin/spool') is a projectile that spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicles use to obtain thrust from a rocket engine. Rocket engine exhaust is formed entirely from propellant carried within the rocket.

Propelled by a rocket engine.

A cylindrical projectile that can be propelled to a great height or distance by the combustion of its contents, used typically as a firework or signal.

Usually utilized in military or defense contexts.

A severe reprimand

In military terminology, a missile, also known as a guided missile or guided rocket, is a guided airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight usually by a jet engine or rocket motor. Missiles have five system components: targeting, guidance system, flight system, engine and warhead.

An edible Mediterranean plant of the cabbage family, whose leaves are eaten in salads.

An object or weapon that is fired, thrown, dropped, or otherwise projected at a target; a projectile.

(of an amount, price, etc.) increase very rapidly and suddenly

A guided missile.

Attack with rocket-propelled missiles

A ballistic missile.

A rocket engine.

Any object used as a weapon by being thrown or fired through the air, such as stone, arrow or bullet. 17

A vehicle or device propelled by one or more rocket engines, especially such a vehicle designed to travel through space.

(military) A self-propelled projectile whose trajectory can be adjusted after it is launched. 20

A projectile weapon carrying a warhead that is powered and propelled by rockets.

Capable of being thrown; adapted for hurling or to be projected from the hand, or from any instrument or engine{2}, so as to strike an object at a distance.

A projectile firework having a cylindrical shape and a fuse that is lit from the rear.

A weapon thrown or projected or intended to be projected, as a lance, an arrow, or a bullet.

See arugula.

A rocket-propelled device designed to fly through the air and deliver a warhead of explosive materials to a target.

Any of several plants of the mustard family, especially the dame's rocket and the sea rocket.

Rocket carrying passengers or instruments or a warhead

To move swiftly and powerfully, as a rocket

A weapon that is thrown or projected

To fly swiftly straight up, as a game bird frightened from cover.

Often contains an explosive payload.

To soar or rise rapidly

To carry by means of a rocket.

To assault with rockets.

A rocket engine.

(military) A non-guided missile propelled by a rocket engine.

A vehicle propelled by a rocket engine.

A rocket propelled firework; a skyrocket.

(slang) An ace (the playing card).

An angry communication (such as a letter or telegram) to a subordinate.

A blunt lance head used in jousting.

(figurative) Something that shoots high in the air.

A stupid or crazy person.

A very physically attractive woman.

The leaf vegetable Eruca sativa or Eruca vesicaria.

(Consolida regalis).

(ambitransitive) To accelerate swiftly and powerfully.

To fly vertically.

To rise or soar rapidly.

To carry something in a rocket.

To attack something with rockets.

A cruciferous plant (Eruca sativa) sometimes eaten in Europe as a salad.

An artificial firework consisting of a cylindrical case of paper or metal filled with a composition of combustible ingredients, as niter, charcoal, and sulphur, and fastened to a guiding stick. The rocket is projected through the air by the force arising from the expansion of the gases liberated by combustion of the composition. Rockets are used as projectiles for various purposes, for signals, and also for pyrotechnic display.

A blunt lance head used in the joust.

Any flying device propelled by the reactive force of hot gases expelled in the direction opposite its motion. The fuel used to generate the expelled gases in rockets may be solid or liquid; rockets propelled by liquid fuels typically have a combustible fuel (such as hydrogen or kerosene) which is combined inside the rocket engine with an oxidizer, such as liquid oxygen. Single liquid fuels (called monopropellants) are also known. Since rocket engines do not depend on a surrounding fluid medium to generate their thrust, as do airplanes with propellers or jet engines, they may be used for propulsion in the vacuum of space.

To rise straight up; said of birds; usually in the present participle or as an adjective.

Any vehicle propelled by a rocket engine

A jet engine containing its own propellant and driven by reaction propulsion

Erect European annual often grown as a salad crop to be harvested when young and tender

Propels bright light high in the sky, or used to propel a lifesaving line or harpoon

Sends a firework display high into the sky

Shoot up abruptly, like a rocket;

Propel with a rocket

Used for various purposes including space exploration.

Can carry non-explosive payloads.

May or may not have guidance systems.

Commonly designed for vertical lift-off.

A missile is a weapon designed to be guided to a specific target.

No, not all rockets are missiles. Rockets have various uses beyond weaponry.

A rocket is a vehicle propelled by engines that eject mass to gain thrust.

Yes, missiles usually have guidance systems to hit specific targets.

Rockets are propelled by engines that eject mass to gain thrust.

Most missiles use rocket engines for propulsion, so they can be considered a type of rocket.

A missile often carries an explosive or other destructive payload.

Rockets can carry a variety of payloads, from satellites to humans.

Rockets may or may not have guidance systems, depending on their purpose.

Yes, some rockets are designed to be weapons but they can also serve other purposes.

Missiles are commonly used in military and defense scenarios.

While often explosive, missiles can also carry other types of destructive payloads.

Rockets have diverse uses, from space exploration to scientific research.

Missiles are usually propelled by rocket engines.

Technically, a rocket can be adapted to serve as a missile if it's equipped with guidance systems and a specific target.