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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
gun noun 1 any weapon which fires bullets or shells from a metal tube. 2 any instrument which forces something out under pressure • spray gun. 3 colloq a gunman • a hired gun. 4 a member of a party of hunters. 5 the signal to start a race, etc. verb (gunned, gunning) colloq to rev up (a car engine) noisily. go great guns colloq to function or be performed with great speed or success. jump the gun see under jump. stick to one's guns see under stick2.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c as gonne: probably from the Scandinavian female name Gunnhildr, both parts of which mean 'war', from the medieval habit of giving large engines of war female names.
be gunning for someone to be searching determinedly for them, usually with hostile intent. be gunning for something to try to obtain it • were gunning for a pay rise. gun someone or something down to shoot them or it with a gun. |
gun noun 1 any weapon which fires bullets or shells from a metal tube. 2 any instrument which forces something out under pressure • spray gun. 3 colloq a gunman • a hired gun. 4 a member of a party of hunters. 5 the signal to start a race, etc. verb (gunned, gunning) colloq to rev up (a car engine) noisily. go great guns colloq to function or be performed with great speed or success. jump the gun see under jump. stick to one's guns see under stick2.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c as gonne: probably from the Scandinavian female name Gunnhildr, both parts of which mean 'war', from the medieval habit of giving large engines of war female names.
be gunning for someone to be searching determinedly for them, usually with hostile intent. be gunning for something to try to obtain it • were gunning for a pay rise. gun someone or something down to shoot them or it with a gun. |
gun noun 1 any weapon which fires bullets or shells from a metal tube. 2 any instrument which forces something out under pressure • spray gun. 3 colloq a gunman • a hired gun. 4 a member of a party of hunters. 5 the signal to start a race, etc. verb (gunned, gunning) colloq to rev up (a car engine) noisily. go great guns colloq to function or be performed with great speed or success. jump the gun see under jump. stick to one's guns see under stick2.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c as gonne: probably from the Scandinavian female name Gunnhildr, both parts of which mean 'war', from the medieval habit of giving large engines of war female names.
be gunning for someone to be searching determinedly for them, usually with hostile intent. be gunning for something to try to obtain it • were gunning for a pay rise. gun someone or something down to shoot them or it with a gun. |
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
“Chambers is the one I keep at my right hand”- Philip Pullman.
The unrivalled dictionary for word lovers, now in its 13th edition.
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The Chambers Thesaurus
The Chambers Thesaurus (4th Edition) is a veritable treasure-trove, including the greatest selection of alternative words and phrases available in an A to Z format. -
Chambers Biographical Dictionary
“Simply all you need to know about anyone” – Fay Weldon.
Thoroughly revised and updated for its 9th edition.
Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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