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Glite Dictionary
automatic pistol

automatic pistol

2 5.1
A small gun that keeps firing while you hold the trigger and there are bullets
  • noun
  • /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk ˈpɪstl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pistola automática
  • In his left hand was a silver automatic pistol.
  • .45 automatic pistol
  • semi-automatic pistol
  • small automatic pistol

Examples

  • Brian notices that Adele's rummaging has revealed an automatic pistol in the open canvas bag.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • The shortest pulled his hand out of his jacket pocket, showing Millunzi a silver-gray automatic pistol.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • As he did, he found himself looking down the barrel of an automatic pistol, maybe six feet away.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • I think about saying something casual about how I always carry a small automatic pistol.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Down below, Jeff is reaching for the automatic pistol the sheriff ordered him to drop.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Earl sits behind the wheel, aiming an automatic pistol.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Todd takes out a .45 automatic pistol and loads a cartridge.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Hart slipped an automatic pistol out of a belt holster, and Goodie gulped and fumbled out his own revolver.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • He pulled out his automatic pistol and aimed it at the target on the range.

  • The detective found an automatic pistol hidden in the suspect's car during the investigation.

Synonyms

automatic weapon
vsautomatic pistol
  • Specialized
38 4.9

A gun that reloads and keeps firing while the trigger is held

is used mainly for hand-held weapons rather than larger heavy arms
machine pistol
vsautomatic pistol
  • NSFW
3 7.8

A small automatic handgun that fires many bullets very quickly

is generally not described as a very small submachine type
automatic
vsautomatic pistol
1 7.3

A gun that keeps firing while the trigger is held

is the specific hand-held version rather than the general gun category
automatic firearm
vsautomatic pistol
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A gun that keeps loading and shooting as long as you hold the trigger

is specific to hand-held weapons rather than all firearm types
automatic gun
vsautomatic pistol
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A weapon that reloads and keeps firing while you hold the trigger

is limited to hand-held types rather than all automatic firearms

How Automatic

automatic pistol
  • Specialized
2 5.1
semiautomatic pistol
  • Specialized
3 4.7
one shot
  • Specialized
66 4.1

Surface Forms

automatic pistol singular
automatic pistols plural

Morphology

automatic + pistol

The meaning of 'automatic pistol' is directly and compositionally derived from 'automatic' (self-operating/continues firing) + 'pistol' (handgun), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the combined meaning. This adjective+noun composition is a common, predictable pattern in English (and in many other languages), making the phrase transparent to learners.

Etymology

The noun automatic pistol comes from how the gun works: automatic means it makes the pistol keep firing 'as long as the trigger is held' and there are bullets. So the name explains why it means a small gun that will 'continue to fire' while the trigger is pressed.