rifle
rifle [rifle rifles rifled rifling] noun, verb BrE [ˈraɪfl] NAmE [ˈraɪfl]
noun
a gun with a long ↑barrel which you hold to your shoulder to fire
Word Origin:
n. mid 17th cent. French rifler ‘graze, scratch’ Germanic rifle gun v. senses 1 to 2 Middle English Old French rifler ‘graze, plunder’ Germanic v. sense 3 1940s rifle ‘gun’ shoot
Example Bank:
•a hunting rifle
•an assault rifle
verb
1. intransitive, transitive ~ (through) sth to search quickly through sth in order to find or steal sth
•She rifled through her clothes for something suitable to wear.
2. transitive ~ sth to steal sth from somewhere
•His wallet had been rifled.
3. transitive ~ sth + adv./prep. to kick a ball very hard and straight in a game of football ( ↑soccer )
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
n. mid 17th cent. French rifler ‘graze, scratch’ Germanic rifle gun v. senses 1 to 2 Middle English Old French rifler ‘graze, plunder’ Germanic v. sense 3 1940s rifle ‘gun’ shoot
|
|
