GUN


Meaning of GUN in English

■ noun

1》 a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets or shells are propelled by explosive force.

↘ N. Amer. a ~man: a hired ~.

2》 a device for discharging something (e.g. grease) in a required direction.

■ verb ( ~s , ~ning , ~ned )

1》 ( ~ someone down ) shoot someone with a ~.

2》 ( be ~ning for ) be aggressively pursuing or acting against.

↘be striving for determinedly.

3》 informal cause (an engine) to race.

↘accelerate (a vehicle).

Phrases

go great ~s informal proceed vigorously or successfully.

jump the ~ informal act before the appropriate time.

stick to one's ~s informal refuse to compromise or change, despite criticism.

top ~ informal the most important person in an organization or sphere.

under the ~ N. Amer. informal under great pressure.

Derivatives

~less adjective

-~ned adjective

Origin

ME ~ne , gonne , perh. from a familiar form of the Scand. name Gunnhildr , from ~nr + hildr , both meaning 'war'.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.