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bullet

bullet

2.2
A small metal object fired from a gun
  • noun
  • /ˈbʌlɪt/
translation icon : bala
  • He was surprised to learn that the bullet had penetrated the metal door.
  • bullet hole
  • bullet wound
  • rubber bullets

You're sitting in your car, bullets rang out and you get shot.

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Examples

  • Somebody will take this bullet out of my leg, I'll tell you.

  • At the beginning of 1990, a new rubber bullet with greater range and impact was introduced.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Actually, you can see the bullet right here where it stopped.

  • This is a part of the bullet that got stuck in the brain.

  • So it only took one bullet, you know, to go all the way through.

  • Did you get the bullet out of your wall yet?

  • The introduction of plastic bullets at the end of July 1988 changed that.

    Academic text (1991)
  • The bullet passed through.

  • The earring and a .22 caliber bullet would be critical to the case.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Although banned for waterfowl hunting, lead bullets are still used to shoot deer and other wildlife.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

round
vsbullet
387 7.2

A single bullet or shell used in a gun

is only the metal projectile, not the full cartridge
one shot
vsbullet
  • Specialized
66 4.1

A single bullet and its case ready to be fired from a gun

is the projectile that such a single charge launches
projectile
vsbullet
46 6.6

An object thrown or fired through the air, often used as a weapon

is the specific small metal form used as weapon ammunition
slug
vsbullet
45 7.2

A large bullet fired from a shotgun

is smaller and generally lighter than that heavy single projectile
pellet
vsbullet
23 4.9

A small metal ball fired from a shotgun

is typically a single metal piece rather than multiple small pieces
BB
vsbullet
19 7.8

A small metal pellet fired from an air gun

is a firearm metal projectile fired at higher power
rubber bullet
vsbullet
11 3.8

A small hard piece of rubber police fire from guns to hurt but not kill

is the standard lethal metal projectile rather than a rubber one
rifle shot
vsbullet
1 3.7

A single firing of a rifle that makes a loud sound

is the small metal projectile used in many firearms
tracer bullet
vsbullet
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A bullet that leaves a bright trail so you can see its path

is the ordinary metal projectile without a visible flight trail
rifle ball
vsbullet
  • Archaic
7.9

A piece of metal fired from a rifle, originally round but later long

is the general small metal projectile used across guns
BB shot
vsbullet
7.7

A small round metal pellet fired from an air gun

is usually a single metal projectile rather than many pellets
round shot
vsbullet
  • Archaic
9.9

A solid metal ball used in cannons in the past

is much smaller and used in modern handheld firearms
ghost bullet
vsbullet
  • Specialized
9.9

A bullet that leaves almost no sign to show where it came from

is the ordinary metal projectile that may be easily traced

Idioms

22 6.4

Avoid a very bad or dangerous situation at the last moment

to take a bullet
  • Informal
20 7.2

To accept pain or risk to protect another person

12 5.8

To face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely

with a bullet
  • Jargon
3 9.1

A fast rise to the top of music or movie charts

3 9.3

A clear top item on charts or rankings that is much more popular than others

1 8.9

To lose a job suddenly because of a mistake or problem

Compounds

57 2.3

A hole in a wall, window, or piece of clothing made by a bullet

11 3.8

A small hard piece of rubber police fire from guns to hurt but not kill

silver bullet
  • Informal
6 5.3

A simple answer that seems to fix a very hard problem quickly

5 2.8

A very fast passenger train that runs on special tracks like those in Japan

2 6.8

A simple fix people hope can solve a difficult problem quickly

1 5.5

A treatment like a drug that cures or prevents a disease quickly and effectively

tracer bullet
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A bullet that leaves a bright trail so you can see its path

bullet fingerprinting
  • Specialized
7.2

A way to identify the gun that fired a bullet by examining marks on the bullet and its case

8.4

A small bullet with a soft tip that expands when it hits something, making a large wound

ghost bullet
  • Specialized
9.9

A bullet that leaves almost no sign to show where it came from

tracer bullet
  • Jargon
7.0

A small quick test in software that checks if core parts work together

How Big

slug
45 7.2
bullet
2.2
pellet
23 4.9
BB
19 7.8

Surface Forms

bullet singular
bullets plural

Etymology

Bullet comes from an old French word meaning a small ball, because the first bullets were round bits of lead like tiny balls used in early guns. So a bullet today is a small metal projectile fired from a gun.