machine gun

¹

noun

1. a small arm operated by a mechanism, able to deliver a rapid and continuous fire of bullets as long as the trigger is pressed.

machine-gun

²

[muh-sheen-guhn]

verb (used with object)

machine-gunned, machine-gunning 

1. to shoot at with a machine gun.

machine gun

noun

1. 1. a rapid-firing automatic gun, usually mounted, from which small-arms ammunition is discharged

   2. ( as modifier )

      machine-gun fire

verb

1. (tr) to shoot or fire at with a machine gun

Other Word Forms

• machine gunner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of machine gun¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Origin of machine gun²

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Khan's machine gun crew, along with one other, carried on fighting until they were overrun by Germans.

From BBC

She described the conditions in which they had been held, including cramped cells and a maximum security prison holding "murderers", fenced with barbered wire and where guards carried machine guns.

From BBC

Court documents seen by BBC Verify show the FBI and other federal agents were involved in the arrest, in which a Mac 9 machine gun was allegedly found.

From BBC

North Korean Army Lt Gen Ko Jong Chol said Seoul's military used a machine gun to fire more than 10 warning shots towards its soldiers, according to state media.

From BBC

He never has a handle on any of the conspiracies, and when he grabs a machine gun, he’s got no aim.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• submachine gun