gun

GUN/ɡʌn/

Pluralguns

19 meanings of gun

Practice

1
shooting weaponnouncountable
A weapon or machine that shoots bullets or other objects out of a tube.
The old fort has guns of every size, from small pistols to huge cannons.
A cannon is a huge gun that fires heavy balls.
Note
2
nouncountable
A weapon a person holds to shoot bullets, such as a pistol or rifle.
She kept a small gun locked in a drawer for safety.
The guard pulled out his gun when he heard a noise.
UsageYou fire a gun or point it. You shoot with a gun.
Similarfirearm, weapon
3
applying toolnouncountable
A tool you hold and squeeze to spray or push out paint, glue, or similar stuff.
Like a tube of toothpaste that pushes paste out when you squeeze it.
Dad used a staple gun to fix the new fabric to the old chair.
He ran the gun along the edge to seal the gap with caulk.
Note
4
nouncountable
A big cannon with a long barrel, used by an army or navy.
Like throwing a ball hard and straight ahead instead of tossing it high into the air.
The ship's gun fired a shell straight at the distant hill.
This gun has a long barrel and shoots its shells low and very fast.
Similarcannon
Note
5
ceremony firingnounfigurativelycountable
A cannon or rifle fired to honor someone or to send a signal, not to harm anyone.
Like clapping loudly to welcome someone, but using a booming blast instead.
The ship's gun was fired to greet the visiting king.
Twenty-one guns boomed to honor the fallen leader.
UsageOften in a 21-gun salute.
Similarcannon
Note

Less common meanings

6
revverbtransitive
To make an engine or vehicle speed up quickly.
Like pressing hard on a pedal to make something go faster.
Drivers often gun their engines at the starting line.
He gunned the motor and roared down the empty road.
UsageSay gun the engine.
Similarrev, accelerate
7
go afterverbintransitive
To go after someone with the aim of attacking them.
Like a player who keeps trying to beat one rival.
The other kids were gunning for him after he told on them.
Reporters began to gun for the mayor over the scandal.
UsageSay someone is gunning for you.
8
aim forverbcolloquialintransitive
To try very hard to get or do something.
She's been gunning for that promotion all year.
Our team is gunning for first place again this season.
UsageSay gunning for first place or gunning to win.
Similaraim, strive, push
Note
9
arm musclesnouncolloquialcountable
The big muscle on the front of your upper arm.
He flexed his guns for the camera at the beach.
He rolls up his sleeves at the gym to show off his guns.
Similarbiceps
10
shooternouncolloquialmetonymicallycountable
A person who uses a gun, especially one who can shoot fast.
He was known as the fastest gun in the whole town.
Nobody wanted to fight him because he was a very fast gun.
UsageOften in the fastest gun in the West or a hired gun.
Similarshooter, marksman
Note
11
top performernounslangAustraliaNew Zealandcountable
A person who is really good at something or really cool.
Like calling someone a star because they shine far above the rest.
He's a real gun at fixing cars.
The team's best players are total guns on the field.
UsageSay someone is a gun at something.
Similarace, star, whiz, pro
12
old TV partnouncountable
The part inside an old TV that shoots a beam of tiny particles at the screen.
Like a hose that sprays tiny invisible bits at a screen instead of water.
The gun inside the old television fired a beam of electrons at the glass to make the picture.
When the guns inside the tube wear out, the colors look wrong.
Note
13
root forverbcolloquialintransitive
To strongly support a person or idea.
The whole crowd was gunning for their hometown hero to win.
We're all gunning for you, so go out there and win.
UsageWe're gunning for you means we want you to win.
Similarroot, pull, cheer
14
huntverbintransitive
To hunt birds or small animals with a gun.
Like going fishing, but you carry a gun and look for small animals instead.
Every fall, my uncle went gunning for ducks on the lake.
Every fall, Uncle Ray went gunning on the marsh with his old dog.
Similarhunt, shoot
15
noun
A long, narrow surfboard with a pointed nose, made for riding very big waves.
16
noun
Sudden, very strong bursts of wind, especially at sea.
17
noun
In some computer grids, a shape that keeps making and sending out new moving shapes.
18
verbslangUS
For a male prisoner, to touch himself sexually while staring at someone, often a female guard, to frighten them.
19
nounobsolete
A thief who robs people in the street.

More uses

gun downto shoot someone

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of gun apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Middle English gunne. It may come from the woman's name Gunnhild, once used as a nickname for war machines.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Gun comes from Middle English gunne. en.wiktionary.org
Gun may ultimately derive from the female name Gunnhild. en.wiktionary.org
Gunnhild was formerly used as a nickname for war machines. en.wiktionary.org