rifle

[ rahy-fuhl ]

/ ˈraɪ fəl /

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See synonyms for: rifle / rifling / rifler on Thesaurus.com

noun

a shoulder firearm with spiral grooves cut in the inner surface of the gun barrel to give the bullet a rotatory motion and thus a more precise trajectory.

one of the grooves.

a cannon with such grooves.

Often Rifles . any of certain military units or bodies equipped with rifles.

verb (used with object), ri·fled, ri·fling.

to cut spiral grooves within (a gun barrel, pipe, etc.).

to propel (a ball) at high speed, as by throwing or hitting with a bat.

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Origin of rifle

An Americanism dating back to 1745–55; from Low German rīfeln “to groove,” derivative of rīve, riefe “groove, flute, furrow”; akin to Old English rifelede “wrinkled”

Words nearby rifle

riffage, riffle, riffler, riffola, riffraff, rifle, rifle bird, rifled slug, rifle green, rifle grenade, rifleman

Other definitions for rifle (2 of 2)

rifle²

[ rahy-fuhl ]

/ ˈraɪ fəl /

verb (used with object), ri·fled, ri·fling.

to ransack and rob (a place, receptacle, etc.).

to search and rob (a person).

to plunder or strip bare.

to steal or take away.

Origin of rifle

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English rifel, from Old French rifler “to scratch, strip, plunder”

synonym study for rifle

1. See rob.

OTHER WORDS FROM rifle

rifler, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rifle

riffle, rifle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use rifle in a sentence

Preece maneuvered toward the ball as it floated toward him, then rifled it into the back of the net for the game-winning goal.
With an Adele song as its battle cry, a lowly English soccer club looks to rewrite history|Glynn A. Hill|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
One of the Patriot Prayer supporters who carried an AR-15 rifle into the Statehouse was charged with pepper-spraying six police officers.
“Sense of Entitlement”: Rioters Faced Few Consequences Invading State Capitols. No Wonder They Turned to the U.S. Capitol Next.|by Jeremy Kohler|January 19, 2021|ProPublica
The officer who shot Lemp did so, prosecutors concluded, after Lemp ignored commands to raise his hands as he got out of his bed, grabbed an assault-style rifle and pointed it at the officer, the report said.
Body-cam video in fatal Duncan Lemp raid confirms police did not record shooting|Dan Morse|January 11, 2021|Washington Post
The post was accompanied by a selfie of Barnett with a rifle strapped to his chest.
Man who posed at Pelosi desk said in Facebook post that he is prepared for violent death|Jon Swaine|January 7, 2021|Washington Post

The truck, parked across the street from the party offices and near the entrance to a Metro station, contained rifles and shotguns, a great deal of ammunition, and other unspecified material, these people said.
Woman dies after shooting in U.S. Capitol; D.C. National Guard activated after mob breaches building|Washington Post Staff|January 7, 2021|Washington Post
In their midst stands a soldier with the Lebanese armed forces in a red beret, sporting an assault rifle and an unblinking stare.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda|Ruth Michaelson|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He used the powerful assault rifle issued to all guards on tower duty.
A Million Ways to Die in Prison|Daniel Genis|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My rifle was in my shoulder in that familiar and powerful position.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I crossed the room with my rifle up, stood on top of the bed, and from my perch looked down at bin Laden.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At one point McShane stopped suddenly, and pointed to what looked like a rifle protruding from a window.
Honoring The Late John Doar, A Nearly Forgotten Hero Of The Civil Rights Era|Gary May|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was no fighting; a rifle shot now and then from the crests where we saw our fellows clearly.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
One Turkish Company, about a hundred strong, was making an ugly push within rifle shot of our ship.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
Our batteries last night did not fire a shot and the men had to drive back the enemy by rifle fire.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
MacRae's seat, stone-marker, and aboriginal spearhead; the three lined up like the sights of a modern rifle.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
In the fall the barrel of his rifle had been so covered with dead leaves and dust that he could not take aim.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for rifle (1 of 2)

rifle¹

/ (ˈraɪfəl) /

noun

a firearm having a long barrel with a spirally grooved interior, which imparts to the bullet spinning motion and thus greater accuracy over a longer range
(as modifier)rifle fire

(formerly) a large cannon with a rifled bore

one of the grooves in a rifled bore

(plural)

a unit of soldiers equipped with rifles
(capital when part of a name)the Rifle Brigade

verb (tr)

to cut or mould spiral grooves inside the barrel of (a gun)

to throw or hit (a ball) with great speed

Word Origin for rifle

C18: from Old French rifler to scratch; related to Low German rifeln from riefe groove, furrow

British Dictionary definitions for rifle (2 of 2)

rifle²

/ (ˈraɪfəl) /

verb (tr)

to search (a house, safe, etc) and steal from it; ransack

to steal and carry offto rifle goods from a shop

Derived forms of rifle

rifler, noun

Word Origin for rifle

C14: from Old French rifler to plunder, scratch, of Germanic origin

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

rifle

Origin of rifle

Words nearby rifle

Other definitions for rifle (2 of 2)

Origin of rifle

synonym study for rifle

OTHER WORDS FROM rifle

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rifle

Words related to rifle

How to use rifle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rifle (1 of 2)

Word Origin for rifle

British Dictionary definitions for rifle (2 of 2)

Derived forms of rifle

Word Origin for rifle