gun
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A tool designed to shoot objects using stored energy, like a firearm
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
guhnIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈɡʌn
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A device for shooting projectiles or ditto (a shooter), functioning through stored energy: a firearm, cannon, harpoon gun/spear gun, raygun, etc, not a bow and arrow, or slingshot.
A very portable, short firearm, for hand use, which fires bullets or projectiles, such as a handgun, revolver, pistol, or Derringer.
A less portable, long firearm that fires bullets or projectiles; a rifle, either manual, automatic or semi-automatic; a flintlock, musket or shotgun.
A hand-operated pump that resembles a pistol; forces grease into parts of a machine
A device operated by a trigger and acting in a manner similar to a firearm.
figurative
A firearm or cannon used for saluting or signalling.^(21-gun salute)
verb
transitive
To cause to speed up.
To practice fowling or hunting small game; chiefly in participial form: to go gunning.
Shoot with a gun
informalgunning for something or gunning to do something
Make a great effort.
informal
To offer vigorous support to (a person or cause).
To seek to attack someone; to take aim at someone; used with for.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A2 · Elementary (estimated)
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- General English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A device for shooting projectiles or ditto (a shooter), functioning through stored energy: a firearm, cannon, harpoon gun/spear gun, raygun, etc, not a bow and arrow, or slingshot.
Used this way, gun is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Nearby words
- heavy weapon , rarer, so it draws attention
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Related Words
Connected to the same idea, not synonyms.
- ammunitionnoun
- firearmnoun
- launchernoun
- mortarnoun
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: device for shooting projectiles or ditto (a shooter)
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.