Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
air gun

air gun

1 3.1
A device that shoots small pellets using compressed air instead of gunpowder
  • noun
  • /ɛr ɡʌn/
translation icon : pistola de aire
  • The air gun's jammed, get me another one.
  • using an air gun

I was busy kind of refitting an air gun so that it could be used as a gun while my daughter was upstairs doing, while my sister was upstairs doing her work.

Examples

  • Our air guns are exceptionally quiet.

    Pot o' Gold (1941)

  • We also played on the paddleboards, went out on the boat, went on bike rides, and did some target shooting with the air gun.

    Blog text (14)

  • The UL-recognized air gun can be used to clean molded parts, remove dust before painting, or clean packages before labeling and printing.

    Academic text (2004)

  • He used the air gun to practice his shooting skills in the backyard.

  • The air gun was perfect for target practice, as it didn't make much noise.

  • After setting up the target, she took aim with the air gun and fired a shot.

Synonyms

BB gun
vsair gun
16 3.6

A small gun that shoots metal balls using air or gas

is the broader category for guns using compressed air with varied projectiles
paintball gun
vsair gun
5 3.2

A gun that shoots small paint-filled balls used in a game where players mark each other

is the general type used for many purposes beyond sport and marking
air rifle
vsair gun
3 3.7

A gun that uses compressed air to fire small pellets

is the general term covering all shapes not only rifle style
airgun
vsair gun
1 4.1

A gun that uses air or gas to fire small pellets

is the broader name for guns that use compressed air not gunpowder

How Powerful

air rifle
3 3.7
air gun
1 3.1
BB gun
16 3.6

Surface Forms

air gun singular
air guns plural

Morphology

air + gun

The compound 'air gun' denotes a gun that uses air or compressed gas as its propellant, which is directly inferred from combining 'air' (compressed gas/atmosphere) with 'gun' (firearm). This straightforward noun–noun composition is compositional and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Air gun is named for how it works: instead of gunpowder it uses squeezed air to push the bullet out of the gun. So, the name simply means 'a gun powered by air', which explains its modern use.