machine-gun

1 of 3

adjective

ma·​chine-gun mə-ˈshēn-ˌgən How to pronounce machine-gun (audio)
: characterized by rapidity and sharpness : rapid-fire
a comic's machine-gun delivery

machine-gun

2 of 3

verb

machine-gunned; machine-gunning; machine-guns

transitive verb

: to shoot at, wound, or kill (someone or something) with a machine gun
machine-gunned a marauding gang of terrorists outside the U.S. embassy …Terry Eagleton
A few years later someone machine-gunned to death the prosecutor who wanted to try the group for killing the soldiers.Paul Berman
machine gunner noun
or less commonly machine-gunner
plural machine gunners also machine-gunners
These battalions were composed of the hardened infantrymen—riflemen, machine gunners, grenadiers, and mortarmen—who carried the main burden of the war. Shelby L. Stanton

machine gun

3 of 3

noun

plural machine guns
: a gun for sustained rapid fire that uses bullets
broadly : an automatic weapon

Examples of machine-gun in a Sentence

Noun They heard the sound of machine-gun fire.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Adjective
Instead, Shibata resumed his chops with machine-gun chops that popped the Tacoma Dome. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024 There was something faintly but indelibly Trumpian about this maneuver, in that the presumptive Republican nominee has also fought concerns about his age with displays of machine-gun pugnacity. Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 9 July 2024
Verb
As someone who grew up in the Dodgers’ family and now can’t stand the sight of them, who wants to beat them as Buddy Rich might machine-gun his snare drum. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2023
Noun
Young Thug, one of six defendants standing trial, is also charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of codeine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm, and possession of a machine gun. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2024 To compete players can arm themselves with a range of firearms including machine guns, assault rifles and shotguns. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for machine-gun 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1906, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1894, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of machine-gun was in 1867

Dictionary Entries Near machine-gun

machine-glazed

machine-gun

machine gun

Cite this Entry

“Machine-gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machine-gun. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

machine gun

noun
: an automatic gun capable of continuous firing
machine-gun verb
machine gunner noun

More from Merriam-Webster on machine-gun

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!