(~s, ~ning, ~ned)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a weapon from which bullets or other things are fired.
He produced a ~ and he came into the house...
The inner-city has ~s and crime and drugs and deprivation.
...~ control laws.
N-COUNT
2.
A ~ or a starting ~ is an object like a ~ that is used to make a noise to signal the start of a race.
The starting ~ blasted and they were off.
N-COUNT
3.
To ~ an engine or a vehicle means to make it start or go faster by pressing on the accelerator pedal. (mainly AM)
He ~ned his engine and drove off.
VERB: V n
4.
see also air~ , machine-~ , shot~ , sub-machine ~
5.
If you come out with ~s blazing or with all ~s blazing, you put all your effort and energy into trying to achieve something.
The company came out with ~s blazing.
PHRASE: PHR after v
6.
If you jump the ~, you do something before everyone else or before the proper or right time. (INFORMAL)
It wasn’t due to be released until September 10, but some booksellers have jumped the ~ and decided to sell it early.
PHRASE: V inflects
7.
If you stick to your ~s, you continue to have your own opinion about something even though other people are trying to tell you that you are wrong. (INFORMAL)
He should have stuck to his ~s and refused to meet her.
PHRASE: V inflects