iron sight

Meanings

1. 1nounusually pluralspecialist

   A basic aiming device on a gun, made of a notch or ring at the rear and a post or bead at the front, with no lens.

   Grammar: Most often iron sights, as the device has two parts.

   Patterns

   • iron sights on something
   • aim using iron sights

   The rifle came with iron sights and a place to mount a scope.

   He learned to shoot using iron sights before trying a scope.

   Iron sights never need batteries.

2. 2nounusually pluralinformal

   In video games and games of simulated shooting, the view through a weapon's simple built-in sights while aiming.

   Grammar: Informal gaming use: aim down the iron sights.

   Patterns

   • aim down the iron sights

   The game lets you aim down the iron sights for better accuracy.

   Players switch between iron sights and a scope.

Word forms

Common combinations

aim through the iron sights

She aimed through the iron sights and squeezed the trigger.

adjustable iron sights

The rifle has adjustable iron sights for different distances.

fixed iron sights

Fixed iron sights are simple and rugged.

open iron sights

Open iron sights show the target clearly.

use iron sights

Beginners often use iron sights in training.

Synonyms and how they differ

open sights

This is nearly the same and stresses the lack of a lens or tube.

mechanical sights

This is a more technical way to say non-optical sights.

scope

This is the opposite kind of sight, which uses lenses to magnify, so it does not mean the same thing.

bead sight

This names only the front bead, which is one part of iron sights.

Opposites

Word family

sight noun

a device used for aiming

sights noun

the aiming system as a whole

rear sight noun

the notch nearest the shooter

front sight noun

the post or bead at the muzzle end

Commonly confused: iron sight or iron site? iron sight or red dot sight?

Practice

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