Rifle
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈɹaɪfəl/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Rifle is a noun meaning (weaponry) A firearm fired from the shoulder; improved range and accuracy is provided by a long, rifled barrel.
Meaning
(weaponry) A firearm fired from the shoulder; improved range and accuracy is provided by a long, rifled barrel.
More Meanings
- (military, usually in the plural, dated) A rifleman.
- (weaponry) An artillery piece with a rifled barrel.
- A strip of wood covered with emery or a similar material, used for sharpening scythes.
- (intransitive) To quickly search through many items (such as papers, the contents of a drawer, a pile of clothing).
- (intransitive) To commit robbery or theft.
- (transitive) To search with intent to steal.
- (transitive) To strip of goods; to rob; to pillage.
Example Sentences
Near-synonym: riffle
She made a mess when she rifled through the stack of papers, looking for the title document.
Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about ye: / If not, we'll make you sit and rifle you.
thine enemies […]shall ransack and rifle all the things of Edom; and shall search out all thy hidden commodities, and carry them away at once
Word Forms
- rifles
- rifling
- rifled
Synonyms for rifle
Depending on context, synonyms include riffle, ransack, pillage, plunder, loot, foray.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include strip, foray, reave, ransack, pillage, plunder.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.