Topic: TECHNOLOGY
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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Origin: | Perhaps from Gunnilda, a woman's name, from Old Norse Gunnhildr |
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gun1 S2 W2
[countable]
[countable]1PMW a metal weapon which shoots bullets or shells
2
put/hold a gun to somebody's head
a) to put a gun very close to someone's head to shoot them or to force them to do something : 
He put a gun to her head and told the cashier to hand over the money.
He put a gun to her head and told the cashier to hand over the money.b) to force someone to do something they do not want to do : You chose to live here. Nobody put a gun to your head.
You chose to live here. Nobody put a gun to your head.3DT a tool that forces out small objects or a liquid by pressure : a paint gun a nail gun ➔ flashgun, spray gun
a paint guna nail gun4 also starting pistol a gun which is fired into the air at the start of a race
5 American English informal someone who is very important within an organization : Jed wanted to impress a Harvard professor and some other big guns.
big/top gun
Jed wanted to impress a Harvard professor and some other big guns.7 if you do something with all guns blazing, you do it with a lot of energy, determination, and noise
with all guns blazing
➔ son of a gun
