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firearm

firearm

258 4.5
A gun a person can hold and fire by hand
  • noun
  • /ˈfaɪərɑrm/
translation icon : arma de fuego
  • They make some of the world's best firearms, especially handguns.
  • possession of firearms
  • carry a firearm
  • access to firearms

And it's not just access to firearms, but why?

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Examples

  • Wouldn't anyone handling a firearm check the gun themselves?

  • Law enforcement officials also note that firearms are easily accessible by other means.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Do either of you own a firearm? -

  • There is an extra firearm under the car seat, have it ready.

  • I was wondering where you hide your firearm.

  • But in Detroit cops always carry a firearm.

  • Possession of an illegal firearm.

  • Banning may be appropriate for the more dangerous class of firearms, but not for the less dangerous class.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Returning servicemen trained in the use of firearms sought access to recreational shooting.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Do either of you own a firearm?

Synonyms

piece
vsfirearm
  • Slang
294 9.9

A gun, especially a handgun

is the standard non-slang term for any hand-carried weapon
pistol
vsfirearm
268 2.1

A small gun you hold and fire with one hand

is the broader class that also includes shoulder-fired larger weapons
handgun
vsfirearm
187 4.6

A small gun that you hold and fire with one hand

is the general group that also covers two-handed and long-barrel weapons
sidearm
vsfirearm
20 4.6

A small gun carried at a person's side for protection

is a broader hand-carried category not limited to personal side carry
small arm
vsfirearm
  • Specialized
20 4.9

A gun like a handgun or rifle that a person can carry

is the common broader term that covers many hand-carried weapons
shooting iron
vsfirearm
  • Archaic
1 8.6

A small gun like a pistol that you carry on your belt

is the neutral general term rather than an informal nickname

Compounds

automatic firearm
  • Specialized
1 5.1

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

semiautomatic firearm
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A gun that reloads itself after each shot but fires once per trigger pull

repeating firearm
  • Specialized
8.3

A gun that can fire several shots before reloading

How Powerful

automatic rifle
  • Specialized
7 4.7
rifle
525 3.2
shotgun
324 4.1
firearm
258 4.5
pistol
268 2.1
airgun
1 4.1

Surface Forms

firearm singular
firearms plural

Morphology

firearm = fire + arm (transparent) = fire + arm

The meaning is directly composed from 'fire' (discharge/shooting) + 'arm' (weapon), yielding 'a weapon that fires', which is obvious to learners.

Etymology

The word firearm comes from the two words fire and arm, with fire meaning the burning powder used to shoot and arm meaning a 'weapon' you hold. So a firearm is a gun you can carry and fire by hand.