gun
The definition of a gun is a weapon with a metal tube that fires bullets or other explosives, or a device with a tube that shoots objects at a target.
(noun)- An example of a gun is a rifle.
- An example of a gun is what a person would use to shoot water at a target in a carnival game.
Gun is defined as to shoot a person or thing, or to press the gas pedal in a car to speed up quickly.
(verb)- An example of gun is a hunter shooting a deer; gun down a deer.
- An example of gun is a robber getting his car to speed away from a crime scene to get away from the police; gun the engine.
See gun in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- a weapon consisting of a metal tube from which a projectile is discharged by the force of an explosive; specif.,
- technically, a heavy weapon with a relatively long barrel fixed in a mount, as a cannon or machine gun
- a rifle
- ☆ popularly a pistol or revolver
- any similar device not discharged by an explosive: an air gun
- a discharge of a gun in signaling or saluting
- anything like a gun in shape or use
- ☆ Slang gunman (sense )
- Slang the throttle of an engine
Origin: ME gunne, gonne, contr. < gonnilde, a 14th-c. cannon < ON Gunnhildr, fem. name (< gunnr, older form of guthr, war + hildr, battle)
transitive verb
- ☆ Informal to shoot (a person) intentionally: with down
- Slang to advance the throttle of (an engine) so as to increase the speed
See gun in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- A weapon consisting of a metal tube from which a projectile is fired at high velocity into a relatively flat trajectory.
- A cannon with a long barrel and a relatively low angle of fire.
- A portable firearm, such as a rifle or revolver.
- A device resembling a firearm or cannon, as in its ability to project something, such as grease, under pressure or at great speed.
- A discharge of a firearm or cannon as a signal or salute.
- One, such as a hunter, who carries or uses a gun.
- a. A person skilled in the use of a gun.b. A professional killer: a hired gun.
- The throttle of an engine, as of an automobile.
- To shoot (a person): a bank robber who was gunned down by the police.
- To open the throttle of (an engine) so as to accelerate: gunned the engine and sped off.
- Maine To hunt (game).
Origin:
Origin: Middle English gonne, cannon
Origin: , short for Gunilda, woman's name applied to a siege engine
Origin: , from Old Norse Gunnhildr, woman's name
Origin: : gunnr, war; see gwhen- in Indo-European roots
Origin: + hildr, war
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