machine-gun

A soldier fires a machine-gun at a practice range.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A rapid-firing automatic weapon: "machine-gun" refers to a firearm that fires bullets in quick succession, typically from a belt or magazine, and is designed for sustained fire.

2. Verb:

   • To shoot with a machine-gun: To attack or kill someone or something using a machine-gun.
   • To speak or act rapidly and repetitively: In figurative use, "to machine-gun" means to deliver words, questions, or actions in a fast, continuous, and often forceful manner.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The soldier carried a heavy machine-gun into battle. (A rapid-firing automatic weapon used in combat.)
  • The sound of a machine-gun echoed across the field. (The noise produced by such a weapon.)

• Verb:

  • The helicopter machine-gunned the enemy positions from above. (To shoot with a machine-gun.)
  • The reporter machine-gunned the politician with questions. (To ask questions rapidly and insistently.)

Advanced Usage

• "like a machine-gun": used as an adverbial phrase to describe something that happens very quickly and continuously.

  • He fired off insults like a machine-gun. (He insulted people rapidly and without pause.)

• "machine-gun fire": the continuous discharge of bullets from a machine-gun.

  • The troops advanced under heavy machine-gun fire. (They moved forward while being shot at by machine-guns.)

Variants and Related Words

• Machine-gunner (n): a person who operates a machine-gun.

  • The machine-gunner took cover behind the sandbags. (The soldier using the weapon.)

• Machine-gun-like (adj): resembling or characteristic of a machine-gun, especially in speed or intensity.

  • She gave a machine-gun-like laugh. (A rapid, staccato laugh.)

Synonyms

• Automatic weapon: a gun that fires continuously while the trigger is pressed.
• Rapid-fire: (adj) describing something that happens very quickly, often in succession.

Phrasal Verbs

• Machine-gun down: to shoot and kill someone using a machine-gun.
  • The rebels machine-gunned down the unarmed civilians. (They killed them with machine-gun fire.)

Related Idioms

• Spit like a machine-gun: to speak or emit something very rapidly.
  • He spat out his orders like a machine-gun. (He gave orders very quickly and forcefully.)