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air gun
noun
1
: a gun from which a projectile is propelled by compressed air
2
: any of various hand tools that work by compressed air
especially
: airbrush
Examples of air gun in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In his office, Bennett kept a handgun in a desk drawer, and a paper target to practice his aim with an air gun shaped like a Luger.
—Jack Kresnak, Detroit Free Press, 28 Jan. 2024
For one, the film features one of the most memorable villains in recent history in Javier Bardem's Anton Chigurh, a bowl-cut-sporting serial killer with an air gun, who gives most people a chance to survive having met him — most.
—Tim Moffatt, EW.com, 26 Jan. 2024
Firearms are not allowed; air guns and captive bolt pistols are.
—Patricia Mazzei, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023
In April, Medvedev was convicted in Norway of involvement in a bar fight and of carrying an air gun but was acquitted of committing violence against police.
—Reuters, NBC News, 24 Sep. 2023
Essentially, a pellet rifle is anything that is designed to shoot a pellet—which includes most air guns.
—T. Logan Metesh, Field & Stream, 4 Oct. 2023
Since there’s no ignition inside an air gun, making one that works properly is easier said than done.
—T. Logan Metesh, Field & Stream, 4 Oct. 2023
Firearms rankings are composed of separate categories for centerfire rifles, shotguns, pistols, black powder rifles, and air guns.
—Steven Hill, Field & Stream, 3 Aug. 2023
And officials have also pointed out that acoustic instruments used by wind projects are typically quieter than the seismic air guns used by offshore oil and gas operations.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN, 21 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'air gun.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1753, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near air gun
Cite this Entry
“Air gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air%20gun. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
air gun
noun1
: a gun that fires with a compressed gas (as air or carbon dioxide)
2
: any of various hand tools that work by compressed air
especially
: airbrush
Medical Definition
air gun
noun
: jet injector
The UN [United Nations] would like air guns, delivering vaccine doses without using needles.—Laurie Garrett, Newsday
More from Merriam-Webster on air gun
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about air gun
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