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, as a rifle, shotgun, or revolver.
a long-barreled cannon having a relatively flat trajectory.
any device for shooting something under pressure: a paint gun; a staple gun.
Slang. a person whose profession is killing; professional killer: a gangland gun.
British. a member of a shooting party.
electron gun.
Slang.
(esp. in baseball) a player’s throwing arm.
guns,the biceps or triceps of the arms: his big, muscular guns.
verb (used with object),gunned,gun·ning.
to shoot with a gun (often followed by down): The guards gunned down the fleeing convict.
to cause (an engine, vehicle, aircraft, etc.) to increase in speed very quickly by increasing the supply of fuel.
verb (used without object),gunned,gun·ning.
to hunt with a gun.
to shoot with a gun.
Verb Phrases
gun for,
to seek with intent to harm or kill.
to seek; try earnestly to obtain: He is gunning for a raise.
Idioms for gun
give the gun, Slang. to put into motion or speed up: We gave the motor the gun and drove off.
jump the gun, Slang.
to begin a race before the starting signal.
to begin prematurely; act too hastily.
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.
stick to one's guns, to maintain one's position in the face of opposition; stand firm: They stuck to their guns and refused to submit.Also stand by one's guns.
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.
Origin of gun
1
1300–50; Middle English gunne, gonne, apparently short for Anglo-Latin Gunilda, gonnyld, name for engine of war; compare Old Norse Gunna, short for Gunnhildr woman's name
Federal prosecutors said he acquired 144 guns between 2013 and 2019 and transferred 98 of them to others.
Morning Report: The Dreaded Purple Tier|Voice of San Diego|September 16, 2020|Voice of San Diego
However, finding the “smoking gun” — catching a simultaneous neutrino and radio burst from the same magnetar — will be challenging because such neutrinos would be rare and hard to find, says astrophysicist Brian Metzger of Columbia University.
Neutrinos could reveal how fast radio bursts are launched|Lisa Grossman|September 16, 2020|Science News
A statewide reporting project that included VOSD and dozens of other newsrooms last year found that California was only one of five states without uniform regulations for taking a police officer’s badge and gun away.
Morning Report: Hotel Workers Want Their Jobs Back|Voice of San Diego|September 8, 2020|Voice of San Diego
From the high schoolers in Parkland and beyond, this generation has been the most outspoken about the need for gun control.
Reclaiming My Gen Z Identity|Shaan Merchant|September 7, 2020|Ozy
For example, you could assume all independent first-time Minnesota voters who have liked the Bass Pro Shop are likely to care about gun rights.
Why Facebook’s political-ad ban is taking on the wrong problem|Tate Ryan-Mosley|September 6, 2020|MIT Technology Review
“You can imagine the sound of that gun on a Bronx street,” Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce says.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
That act forever sealed his feeling for the Chief, bound it up with the war, with violence, with the gun.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I mean, the reality of it was, I had to go out and get on a horse, and ride in, shoot the gun — how hard was that, right?
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Frias—who was arrested in 2013 for interfering with public duties and public intoxication—was not carrying a gun at the time.
Texas Gun Slingers Police the Police—With a Black Panthers Tactic|Brandy Zadrozny|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Yes, the gun: “While this gives a moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind.”
Forget the Resolutions; Try a Few Declarations|Kevin Bleyer|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Intently from his screened post of observation, he watched the gun barrel.
Tom Fairfield in Camp|Allen Chapman
The magazines were kept open, and every gun, big and little, stood ready to be fired at the word of command.
Fighting in Cuban Waters|Edward Stratemeyer
His first act was to fire the right barrel of his gun in the air, and at the same time give vent to a shout.
Darry the Life Saver|Frank V. Webster
At one time the Mosque was deserted by all except one machine-gun officer, who continued to work his gun single-handed.
With the British Army in The Holy Land|Henry Osmond Lock
He had nicknamed the gun “Ezekiel” after an eccentric old hunter he had known in his home town in Iowa.
Agent Nine and the Jewel Mystery|Graham M. Dean
British Dictionary definitions for gun
gun
/ (ɡʌn) /
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 pressurea grease gun; a spray gun
USslangan armed criminal; gunman
Australian and NZslang
an expert
(as modifier)a gun shearer; a gun batsman
go great gunsslangto act or function with great speed, intensity, etc
jump the gunorbeat the gun
(of a runner, etc) to set off before the starting signal is given
informalto act prematurely
spike someone's guns See spike 1 (def. 15)
stick to one's gunsinformalto maintain one's opinions or intentions in spite of opposition
verbguns, gunningorgunned
(when tr, often foll by down) 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
See also gun for
Word Origin for gun
C14: probably from a female pet name shortened from the Scandinavian name Gunnhildr (from Old Norse gunnr war + hildr war)