Meaning & use
gun barrel
Last updated
UK/ˈɡʌn ˌbærəl/
US/ˈɡʌn ˌbærəl/
Meaning
nouncountable
the long metal tube of a gun through which the bullet or shell travels
Grammar: Countable: a gun barrel, two gun barrels.
Patterns
- the gun barrel
- a rifle's gun barrel
- look down the gun barrel
The gun barrel was hot after several shots.
He cleaned the gun barrel carefully before putting the rifle away.
The tank's gun barrel pointed toward the target.
Word forms
| plural | gun barrels |
|---|
Common combinations
- rifle gun barrel
- The rifle gun barrel is made of high-strength steel.
- gun barrel length
- A longer gun barrel usually gives better accuracy.
- clean the gun barrel
- Soldiers must clean the gun barrel regularly.
- look down the gun barrel
- In the movie, he found himself looking down the gun barrel.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
Commonly confused: gun barrel or barrel?
gun barrel vs barrel
Barrel alone can also mean a large wooden container for liquids, so use gun barrel when you mean the part of a weapon.
Practice
What is the gun barrel?
Choose one answer.
The gun barrel is the tube through which the bullet travels. The handle is the grip or stock, the bullet is the projectile, and bullets are stored in a magazine.
Make it your own
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