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harpoon

A sharp tip within a disposable syringe, used to penetrate the stopper.

hɑːɹˈpuːnCurrent182 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
3 definitions
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Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026

Seen in the wild

Definitions

#1·Apr 27, 2026

A sharp tip within a disposable syringe, used to penetrate the stopper.

I took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana.
Heard in the wild
  • “Sometimes the school day ends and you realize someone has left their harpoon in your classroom.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Outfitting my Project Soda Steal device to a harpoon...”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

A spearlike weapon with a barbed head used in hunting whales and large fish.

I took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana.
Origin: From , from , a variant of , from , from to snatch away, to carry off, to seize, to captivate. Sense and spelling perhaps influenced by .. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"harpoon" means: A spearlike weapon with a barbed head used in hunting whales and large fish.. It carries a violent or aggressive reference, so it is worth noting the context. In most cases the word is used jokingly or for emphasis rather than as a sign of real intent. A calm question about where it was heard is usually all that is needed; pay more attention to behaviour and tone than to the word itself.

For ESL learners

"harpoon" means: A spearlike weapon with a barbed head used in hunting whales and large fish.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

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#3·Apr 27, 2026

(slang) A harmonica.

I took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana.
Heard in the wild
  • “Big ol' harpoon sized needle at the docs. That calls for cake, right?”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “If you ever wanted to see Stephen Root kill a sea hag with a harpoon then #WidowsBay is the show for you.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “100% this! Naval warfare has changed so much from when I was playing Harpoon back in ‘87.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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