gun

noun

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

    ↘N. Amer. a gunman: a hired gun.

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

verb (guns, gunning, gunned)

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

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

    ↘be striving for determinedly.

3》 informal cause (an engine) to race.

    ↘accelerate (a vehicle).

Phrases

go great guns informal proceed vigorously or successfully.

jump the gun informal act before the appropriate time.

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

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

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

Derivatives

gunless adjective

-gunned adjective

Origin

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