automatic firearm
1
5.1
- noun
- /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk ˈfaɪərɑrm/
- Specialized
:
arma de fuego automática
- The NFA is an expansive law that encompasses a range of firearms, including automatic firearms, firearm accessories, and explosives.
- fully automatic firearms
Examples
-
In addition, Canada exercises controls separately over the export of automatic firearms by limiting such exports to countries with which Canada has intergovernmental deference, research, development, and production arrangements.
Academic text (1994) -
A fully automatic firearm can fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull.
-
He had one fully automatic firearm registered.
Blog text (22) -
None in Norway are allowed to own a registered full-automatic firearm.
Blog text (22) -
Those enlisted in the Norwegian home guard will have access to automatic firearms in their homes.
Blog text (22) -
Additionally, despite claims to the contrary, 116 "assault weapons" cannot be easily converted into automatic firearms.117
Academic text (2016) -
In a desperate life-or-death struggle, George Zimmerman clutched Trayvon's wrist, broke his grip on the semi-automatic firearm, and shot him once in the chest.
Blog text (1) -
Fully automatic firearms, such as the M-16, that are most useful in military service, are presumptively beyond the scope of individual rights enumerated in the Second Amendment despite their usefulness to a modern militia.
Academic text (2016) -
Conspicuous in its hypocrisy is how even the most pious Muslims are more than willing to see their ideal world of old contaminated with such modern appurtenances as automatic firearms and nuclear weapons, but that's Islam for you.
Blog text (20) -
Law enforcement agencies are allowed to carry automatic firearms for high-risk operations.
Synonyms
101
3.5
A large gun that fires many bullets very quickly, often used by soldiers
38
4.9
A gun that reloads and keeps firing while the trigger is held
7
4.7
A rifle that shoots bullets without stopping as long as the trigger is held
3
7.8
A small automatic handgun that fires many bullets very quickly
2
5.1
A small gun that keeps firing while you hold the trigger and there are bullets
1
7.3
A gun that keeps firing while the trigger is held
1
3.9
A weapon that reloads and keeps firing while you hold the trigger
1
7.4
A portable .30 caliber automatic rifle used by United States soldiers in World War I, World War II, and Korea
A gun that fires many bullets automatically with one pull of the trigger
How Automatic
- Specialized
1
5.1
- Specialized
1
7.2
- Specialized
66
4.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'automatic' (operates by itself/continues firing) combined with 'firearm' (a gun) yields a gun that fires automatically. This adjective + noun pattern is common and cross-linguistically regular, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
The compound automatic firearm combines automatic, which means 'works by itself', and firearm, which means 'a gun that shoots', so picture a gun that keeps firing as long as you hold the trigger. That's why it means 'a gun that automatically reloads and fires repeatedly while the trigger is pressed'.