gunnoun [ C ]
uk/ɡʌn/us/ɡʌn/B1 a weapon that bullets or shells (= explosive containers) are fired from:
The British police do not carry guns.
You could hear the noise of guns firing in the distance.
in sport, a device that makes a very loud sudden noise as a signal to start a race:
At the gun, the runners sprinted away down the track.
a device that you hold in your hand and use for sending out a liquid or object:
a spray gun
See also
staple gun
hired gun mainly US informal
a person who is paid to shoot and kill someone
More examples
- She raised her gun, took aim and fired.
- This man is desperate and should not be approached as he may have a gun.
- His fingerprints were all over the gun.
- They've only just met - isn't it jumping the gun to be talking about marriage already?
- Suddenly the door burst open and police officers carrying guns rushed in.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Handguns & rifles
- .45
- 2:2
- air rifle
- airgun
- bazooka
- firearm
- flamethrower
- handgun
- howitzer
- Kalashnikov
- ray gun
- revolver
- rifle
- Saturday night special
- sawn-off shotgun
- starting pistol
- stun gun
- submachine gun
- tommy gun
- Uzi
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Athletics
Tools
Murderers & attackers
Idiom(s)
be under the gun
with guns blazing
gunverb [ T ]
uk/ɡʌn/us/ɡʌn/-nn- mainly US old-fashioned informalto make an engine operate at a higher speed:
You must have been really gunning the engine to get here on time.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
On the road: driving & operating road vehicles
- aquaplaning
- back sth up
- boxed in
- bump start
- bus driver
- car seat
- carve
- corner
- dip
- driver
- driving
- foot
- hold the road idiom
- manoeuvring
- motor
- motorist
- mph
- pull away
- scorch
- turning circle
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Increasing and decreasing speed of motion
Moving quickly
Idiom(s)
be gunning for sb
be gunning for sth
Phrasal verb(s)
gun sb down