A rocket-propelled missile of long range which is guided only during the powered portion of its flight, which usually takes only a small part of the total flight time; -- contrasted with guided missile.

A missile whose payload reaches its target by way of an initial powered boost and then a free flight along a high arcing trajectory. Part of the flight of longer-range ballistic missiles may occur outside the atmosphere and involve the "reentry" of a warhead or the missile (see Reentry Vehicle).

a missile that is guided in the first part of its flight but falls freely as it approaches target

a missile designed to operate primarily in accordance with the laws of ballistics

a missile, usually with no wings or fins, with a prescribed course that cannot be altered after the missile has burned its fuel, whereafter

a missile with a prescribed course that cannot be altered after the missile has burned its fuel, whereafter is course is governed by the laws of ballistics

a rocket that is powered for the first one or two minutes of its flight and then coasts unpowered for the next ten or twenty minutes of its flight to its target

A missile using a ballistic trajectory involving a significant ascent and descent including suborbital and partial orbitaltrajectories.

A missile using aballistic trajectory involving a significant ascent and descent including suborbital and partial orbital trajectories.

A missile that is lifted into space by a booster rocket and then descends toward its target in a free falling ballistic trajectory.

A missile using a ballistic trajectory involving an ascent and descent including suborbital and partial orbital trajectories.

a missile that after a short powered flight coasts to its target (as opposed to a cruise missile).

A missile that travels to its target unpowered and unguided after being launched at a velocity such that it will follow a flight trajectory to a desired point. Part of the flight of longer-range ballistic missiles may occur outside the atmosphere and involve the "reentry" of the missile.

Rocket-powered guided delivery instrument for use against ground targets. Due to the fact that that they are difficult to deter, these missiles are the optimal delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction. A large part of its flight is a freefall (or ballistic) trajectory.

A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital, ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering a warhead to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the powered phase of flight and its course is governed by the laws of orbital mechanics and ballistics.