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gun

Syllabification: (gun)
Pronunciation: /gən/
Translate gun | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of gun

noun

  • 1a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other missiles are propelled by explosive force, typically making a characteristic loud, sharp noise.
  • a device for discharging something (e.g., insecticide, grease, or electrons) in a required direction.
  • a starting pistol used in track and field events.
  • the firing of a piece of artillery as a salute or signal:the boom of the one o’clock gun echoed across the river
  • chiefly North American a gunman:a hired gun
  • (guns) Nautical slang, dated used as a nickname for a ship’s gunnery officer.
  • 2 (guns) informal muscular arms; well-developed biceps muscles:it’s encouraging to note that Schwarzenegger wasn’t born with massive guns

verb (guns, gunning, gunned)

[with object]
  • 1 (gun someone down) shoot someone with a gun:they were gunned down by masked snipers
  • 2 informal cause (an engine) to race:as Neil gunned the engine, the boat jumped forward
  • accelerate (a vehicle):he gunned the car away from the curb

Phrases

big gun

informal an important or powerful person:the first baseman and the center fielder were the big guns of that team

go great guns

informal proceed forcefully, vigorously, or successfully:the film industry has been going great guns recently

jump the gun

informal act before the proper time.

stick to one's guns

informal refuse to compromise or change, despite criticism:we have stuck to our guns on that issue

top gun

a (or the) most important person:the top guns in contention for the coveted post of chairman

under the gun

North American informal under great pressure:manufacturers are under the gun to offer alternatives

Phrasal Verbs

gun for

pursue or act against (someone) with hostility:the Republican candidate was gunning for his rival over campaign finances
seek out or strive for (something) determinedly:he had been gunning for a place in the squad

Derivatives

gunless

adjective

gunned

adjective
[in combination]:a heavy-gunned ship

Origin:

Middle English gunne, gonne, perhaps from a nickname for the Scandinavian name Gunnhildr, from gunnr + hildr, both meaning 'war'

gun in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of gun in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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