machine gun

¹ American  

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.

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machine-gun ² American  

[muh-sheen-guhn] / məˈʃinˌgʌn /

verb (used with object)

machine-gunned, machine-gunning

1. to shoot at with a machine gun.

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machine gun British  

noun

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

   2. ( as modifier )

      machine-gun fire

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• machine gunner noun

Etymology

Origin of machine gun¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Origin of machine-gun¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Adds Taylor: “I was running across a field with a machine gun in my hand, running and jumping. I really thought I was Tom Cruise.”

From Los Angeles Times

Like the British troops who readily acknowledged the “pluck” of the Dervishes, Mr. Hart is impressed by their willingness to face the massed firepower of rifles, machine guns and artillery.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I was a serving soldier. I had regular access to assault rifles, pistols, machine guns, sniper rifles. At no point there was there any risk or threat to the public."

From BBC

The Taiwanese boats also have water cannon and a 20-millimetre static machine gun, but are careful to avoid a confrontation that "could lead to unimaginable consequences", Huang said.

From Barron's

The materiel includes the advanced Chinese-made drones along with small arms, heavy machine guns, vehicles, artillery, mortars and ammunition, the officials said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• submachine gun