<p><strong>noun</strong></p><ul><li>a light spear, usually thrown by hand.</li><li>a spearlike shaft about 8½ feet (2.7 meters) long and usually made of wood, used in throwing for distance.</li><li>a competitive field event in which the javelin is thrown for distance.</li></ul><p><strong>verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used with object) to strike or pierce with or as if with a javelin.</li></ul>