ɡʌn n. & v. --n. 1
any kind of
weapon consisting of a
metal tube and often held in
the hand with a
grip at
one end,
from which bullets or
other missiles are propelled with
great force,
esp. by a contained
explosion. 2 any
device imitative of
this, e.g. a
starting pistol. 3 a device
for discharging
insecticide,
grease, electrons,
etc., in the required
direction (often in comb.: grease-gun). 4 a
member of a shooting-party. 5 US a
gunman. 6 the
firing of a gun. 7 (in pl.) Naut. sl. a
gunnery officer. --v. (gunned, gunning) 1 tr. a (usu. foll. by down)
shoot (a person) with a gun. b shoot at with a gun. 2 tr. colloq.
accelerate (an
engine or vehicle). 3 intr. go
shooting. 4 intr. (foll. by for)
seek out determinedly to
attack or
rebuke. øgo great guns colloq.
proceed forcefully or vigorously or successfully. gun-carriage a wheeled
support for a gun. gun-cotton an
explosive used for blasting,
made by steeping
cotton in
nitric and
sulphuric acids. gun crew a
team manning a gun. gun
dog a dog trained to
follow sportsmen using guns. gun-shy (esp. of a
sporting dog) alarmed at the
report of a gun. gun-site a (usu. fortified)
emplacement for a gun.
jump the gun colloq.
start before a signal is
given, or before an agreed
time. stick to one's guns colloq.
maintain one's
position under attack. øøgunless adj. gunned adj. [ME gunne, gonne, perh. f. the Scand.
name Gunnhildr]
