Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - catapult

~1 n 1 a large weapon used in former times to throw heavy stones, iron balls etc 2 BrE a small stick in the shape of a Y with a thin band of rubber fastened over its ends, used by children to throw stones; slingshot AmE 3 a piece of equipment used to send an aircraft into the air from a ship ~2 v 1 T always + adv/prep to push or throw something very hard so that it moves through the air very quickly  (catapult sb into/over/out etc)  (Sam was catapulted into the air by the force of the blast.) 2 catapult sb to fame/stardom etc to suddenly make someone very famous  (The movie `Rebel Without a Cause' catapulted James Dean to stardom.)