gun /gun/

1. A weapon containing a tube from which projectiles are discharged, usu by explosion
2. A cannon, rifle, revolver, etc
3. A device for spraying, squirting, or otherwise propelling material
4. A signal by gun
5. A person who carries a gun, a member of a shooting-party
6. A professional killer (US inf)
7. The throttle of an aircraft (slang)
8. The accelerator of a car (slang)
9. (slang usu in pl) a well-developed bicep muscle
10. An expert or champion, esp in shearing (Aust and NZ informal)

1. To shoot (with down)
2. To shoot at
3. To provide with guns
4. To open the throttle of, to increase speed (also give the gun; slang)
5. To rev up (an engine) noisily (slang)

1. To shoot
2. To go shooting

Expert, pre-eminent

gunˈless adjective

gunnˈage noun

The number of guns carried by a warship

gunnˈer noun

1. A person who works a gun
2. A private in the artillery
3. A branch officer in charge of naval ordnance (nautical)
4. An aircraftman who works a gun in a bomber

gunnˈery noun

The art of managing guns, or the science of artillery

gunnˈing noun

gun barrel noun

The tube of a gun

gunˈboat noun

A small vessel of light draught, fitted to carry one or more guns (gunboat diplomacy the show or threat of (orig naval) force in international negotiation)

gun carriage noun

A carriage on which a cannon is mounted

gunˈcotton noun

An explosive prepared by saturating cotton with nitric and sulphuric acids

gun deck noun

A deck in old warships carrying guns below the main deck (earlier below spar deck)

gun dog noun

A dog trained to work with a shooting-party

gunˈfight noun

A fight involving two or more people with guns, esp formerly in the old American West (also intransitive verb)

gunˈfighter noun

gunˈfire noun

1. The firing of guns
2. The bullets fired
3. The hour at which the morning or evening gun is fired (military and nautical)
4. An early-morning cup of tea, esp one laced with rum (milit sl)

gunˈflint noun

A piece of flint fitted to the hammer of a flintlock musket

gunˈhouse noun

A protective shelter for a gun, and gunner, on a warship

gunˈlayer noun

A person who sets the sights of a ship's gun

gunˈlock noun

The mechanism in some guns by which the charge is exploded

gunˈmaker noun

gunˈman noun

A man who carries a gun, esp an armed criminal

gunˈmetal noun

1. An alloy of copper and tin or zinc in the proportion of about 9 to 1, once used in making cannon
2. Any of various metals used in imitation of this
3. Any of various colours with a metallic sheen

gun moll noun (slang)

1. A woman who associates with criminals
2. A gangster's moll

gunˈplay noun

The use of guns, esp in a fight or display of skill

gunˈpoint noun

The muzzle, or directed aim, of a gun (at gunpoint see below)

gunˈport noun

A porthole or similar opening for a gun

gunˈpowder noun

1. An explosive mixture of saltpetre, sulphur and charcoal
2. A type of green China tea

gunˈroom noun

1. A room where guns are kept
2. On board ship, orig the gunner's apartment, now a mess-room for junior officers

gunˈrunner noun

gunˈrunning noun

Smuggling guns into a country

gunˈship noun

An armed ship, helicopter, etc

gunˈshot noun

1. A shot fired from a gun
2. The distance to which shot can be propelled from a gun, the range of a gun

adjective

Caused by the shot of a gun

gunˈ-shy adjective

Frightened by guns or by the sound of guns (also figurative)

gunˈsight noun

A device helping the user of a gun to aim at a target

gunˈslinger noun (informal)

A gunfighter

gunˈsmith noun

A workman who makes or repairs guns or small arms

gunˈstick noun

A ramrod

gunˈstock noun

The piece on which the barrel of a gun is fixed

gunˈstone noun (Shakespeare)

A stone shot

as sure as a gun

Quite sure, certainly

at gunpoint

Under, or using, the threat of injury or death from a gun

beat the gun

To jump the gun (see under jump¹)

blow great guns

(of wind) to blow tempestuously

go great guns (informal)

To function, be carried out, etc with great success, speed, efficiency, etc

great gun

1. A cannon (obsolete)
2. (also big gun) a person of great importance (informal)

gun for

1. To seek, try to obtain
2. To seek to ruin or destroy

hired gun (informal)

1. A gunman hired to kill for a fee
2. A mercenary, professional fighter or killer
3. A person hired to destroy the opposition, or some unwelcome party, on behalf of another

kiss the gunner's daughter

To be tied to a gun for a flogging

son of a gun

1. A soldier's bastard son (obsolete)
2. A rogue, rascal (slang)
3. Used as an affectionate greeting
4. An interjection expressing surprise or frustration (N American)

spike someone's guns see under spike¹

stick (or stand) to one's guns

To maintain one's position staunchly

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