gun

[ guhn ]

/ gʌn /

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, 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.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!

Question 1 of 7

What does “vacillate” mean?

to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

to cause to be empty or unoccupied.

to assent tacitly; agree; consent.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

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

OTHER WORDS FROM gun

gunless, adjective

Words nearby gun

gum tragacanth, gum tree, gum up, gumweed, gumwood, gun, guna, gunboat, gunboat diplomacy, gun brig, gun camera

Definition for gun (2 of 3)

gun²

[ guhn ]

/ gʌn /

verb

past participle of gin³.

Definition for gun (3 of 3)

gun.

gunnery.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for gun

“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

US slang an armed criminal; gunman

Australian and NZ slang

an expert
(as modifier)a gun shearer; a gun batsman

go great guns slang to act or function with great speed, intensity, etc

jump the gun or beat the gun

(of a runner, etc) to set off before the starting signal is given
informal to act prematurely

spike someone's guns See spike 1 (def. 15)

stick to one's guns informal to maintain one's opinions or intentions in spite of opposition

verb guns, gunning or gunned

(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

Word Origin for gun

C14: probably from a female pet name shortened from the Scandinavian name Gunnhildr (from Old Norse gunnr war + hildr war)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with gun

gun

In addition to the idiom beginning with gun

gun for
gung ho

also see:

at gunpoint
big cheese (gun)
great guns
hired gun
hold a gun to someone's head
jump the gun
smoking gun
son of a bitch (gun)
stick to one's guns
under the gun

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WORD OF THE DAY

gun

noun

verb (used with object), gunned, gun·ning.