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gun
1[guhn]
noun
a weapon consisting of a metal tube, with mechanical attachments, from which projectiles are shot by the force of an explosive; a piece of ordnance.
any portable firearm, such as a rifle, shotgun, or revolver.
a long-barreled cannon having a relatively flat trajectory.
any device for shooting something under pressure.
I always thin the paint a bit before using it in a paint gun.
With a staple gun, you could put up these posters a lot faster.
any of various handheld devices used as a dispenser or applicator.
We need to put a new roll of tape on the tape gun.
Be careful when handling the glue gun, as it has to be quite hot to melt the glue sticks.
Slang.a person whose profession is killing; professional killer.
They got a hired gun to take out the rival drug dealer.
British.a member of a group of people hunting pheasants or other game birds.
Slang.
(especially in baseball) a player’s throwing arm.
guns, the biceps or triceps of the arms.
After the workout he took a selfie, flexing his impressive guns.
verb (used with object)
to shoot with a gun (often followed bydown ).
The fighter pilot gunned down three enemy aircraft even after his own plane was damaged.
to cause (an engine, vehicle, aircraft, etc.) to increase in speed very quickly by increasing the supply of fuel.
Don’t gun the engine before it warms up, especially on a cold day.
verb (used without object)
to hunt with a gun.
He was out gunning in the woods when he came across somebody else’s traps.
to shoot with a gun.
I spent the afternoon gunning at the range with friends from my gun club.
verb phrase
to seek or pursue with intent to defeat, harm, or kill.
The other team was gunning for our running back the whole time.
If you ratted on them, the gang will be out gunning for you.
to seek; try earnestly to obtain.
He is gunning for a raise.
gun
2[guhn]
verb
past participle of gin.
gun.
3abbreviation
gunnery.
gun
/ ɡʌ /
noun
a weapon with a metallic tube or barrel from which a missile is discharged, usually by force of an explosion. It may be portable or mounted. In a military context the term applies specifically to a flat-trajectory artillery piece
( as modifier )
a gun barrel
the firing of a gun as a salute or signal, as in military ceremonial
a member of or a place in a shooting party or syndicate
any device used to project something under pressure
a grease gun
a spray gun
slangan armed criminal; gunman
slang
an expert
( as modifier )
a gun shearer
a gun batsman
slangto act or function with great speed, intensity, etc
(of a runner, etc) to set off before the starting signal is given
informalto act prematurely
See spike 1
informalto maintain one's opinions or intentions in spite of opposition
verb
to shoot (someone) with a gun
(tr) to press hard on the accelerator of (an engine)
to gun the engine of a car
(intr) to hunt with a gun
Other 51Թ Forms
- gunless adjective
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of gun1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of gun1
Idioms and Phrases
jump the gun,
to begin a race before the starting signal.
to begin prematurely; act too hastily.
come out gunning, to enter or engage in a contest, debate, negotiation, etc., with an aggressive attitude.
The councilor has come out gunning on the crime issue ever since his own car was broken into.
We were psyched up for this game and came out gunning, straight to a 6–2 lead.
under the gun, under pressure, as to meet a deadline or solve a problem.
We're all under the gun with these new sales quotas.
give the gun, to put into motion or speed up.
The pilot gave the engine the gun and managed to take off on the short airstrip.
stick to one's guns, to maintain one's position in the face of opposition; stand firm: Also stand by one's guns.
They stuck to their guns and refused to submit.
spike someone's guns, to frustrate or prevent someone from accomplishing a plan.
Our competitors planned a surprise reduction in their rates, but we discovered it and were able to spike their guns.
Example Sentences
State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were gunned down at their home early on Saturday morning, but lived.
Medina asked the soldiers to put down their guns and they did, she said.
Surgical skills developed by doctors in war zones are now routinely being used to treat victims of gun and knife crime.
Marines stood guard at the entrance, clutching their guns and shields.
He owned the two guns legally, had passed a psychological test to own a licence and had several sessions of weapons training earlier this year at a Graz shooting club.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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