gum|drop /gʌ mdrɒp/ (gumdrops ) N‑COUNT A gumdrop is a chewy sweet which feels like firm rubber and usually tastes of fruit.
gum|my /gʌ mi/ ADJ Something that is gummy is sticky. □ My eyes are gummy.
gump|tion /gʌ mpʃ ə n/
1 N‑UNCOUNT If someone has gumption , they are able to think what it would be sensible to do in a particular situation, and they do it. [INFORMAL ] □ Surely anyone with marketing gumption should be able to sell good books at any time of year.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If someone has the gumption to do something, they are brave enough to do it. □ He suspected that deep down, she admired him for having the gumption to disagree with her.
gu m tree (gum trees ) N‑COUNT A gum tree is a tree such as a eucalyptus that produces gum.
gun ◆◆◇ /gʌ n/ (guns , gunning , gunned )
1 N‑COUNT A gun is a weapon from which bullets or other things are fired. □ He produced a gun and he came into the house. □ The inner-city has guns and crime and drugs and deprivation. □ …gun control laws.
2 N‑COUNT A gun or a starting gun is an object like a gun that is used to make a noise to signal the start of a race. □ The starting gun blasted and they were off.
3 VERB To gun an engine or a vehicle means to make it start or go faster by pressing on the accelerator pedal. [mainly AM ] □ [V n] He gunned his engine and drove off.
4 → see also airgun , machine gun , shotgun , sub-machine gun
5 PHRASE If you come out with guns blazing or with all guns blazing , you put all your effort and energy into trying to achieve something. □ The company came out with guns blazing.
6 PHRASE If you jump the gun , you do something before everyone else or before the proper or right time. [INFORMAL ] □ Some booksellers have jumped the gun and decided to sell it early.
7 PHRASE If you stick to your guns , you continue to have your own opinion about something even though other people are trying to tell you that you are wrong. [INFORMAL ] □ He should have stuck to his guns and refused to meet her.
▸ gun down PHRASAL VERB [usu passive] If someone is gunned down , they are shot and severely injured or killed. [JOURNALISM ] □ [be V -ed P ] He had been gunned down and killed at point-blank range.
▸ gun for PHRASAL VERB [only cont] If someone is gunning for you, they are trying to find a way to harm you or cause you trouble. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] He knew that they were gunning for him. COLLOCATIONS gun NOUN 1
noun + gun : anti-aircraft, hand, laser; imitation, replica, toy
adjective + gun : heavy; loaded
verb + gun : brandish, carry, draw, hold; fire, load, point
gun|boat /gʌ nboʊt/ (gunboats ) N‑COUNT A gunboat is a small ship which has several large guns fixed on it.
gu n con|tro l N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Gun control refers to the laws that restrict the possession and use of guns. □ France has tight gun-control laws for handguns, but not for hunting rifles.
gu n dog (gun dogs ) also gundog N‑COUNT A gun dog is a dog that has been trained to work with a hunter or gamekeeper, especially to find and carry back birds or animals that have been shot.
gun|fight /gʌ nfa I t/ (gunfights ) N‑COUNT A gunfight is a fight between people using guns. ● gun|fighter (gunfighters ) N‑COUNT □ …a gunfighter who hunts down the former partner who double-crossed him.
gun|fire /gʌ nfa I ə r / N‑UNCOUNT Gunfire is the repeated shooting of guns. □ The sound of gunfire and explosions grew closer.
gunge /gʌ ndʒ/ N‑UNCOUNT You use gunge to refer to a soft, sticky substance, especially if it is unpleasant. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ He had painted the floors with some kind of black gunge.
gung ho /gʌ ŋ hoʊ / also gung-ho ADJ If you say that someone is gung ho , you mean that they are very enthusiastic or eager to do something, for example to fight in a battle. [INFORMAL ] □ He has warned some of his more gung ho generals about the consequences of an invasion. □ Senate Republicans are less gung-ho about tax cuts.
gunk /gʌ ŋk/ N‑UNCOUNT You use gunk to refer to any soft sticky substance, especially if it is unpleasant. [INFORMAL ]
gun|man /gʌ nmən/ (gunmen ) N‑COUNT A gunman is a man who uses a gun to commit a crime such as murder or robbery. [JOURNALISM ] □ Two policemen were killed when gunmen opened fire on their patrol vehicle.
gun|ner /gʌ nə r / (gunners ) N‑COUNT A gunner is an ordinary soldier in an artillery regiment.
gun|nery /gʌ nəri/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Gunnery is the activity of firing large guns. [MILITARY , TECHNICAL ] □ During the Second World War the area was used for gunnery practice.
gun|point /gʌ npɔ I nt/ PHRASE If you are held at gunpoint , someone is threatening to shoot and kill you if you do not obey them. □ She and her two daughters were held at gunpoint by a gang who burst into their home.
gun|powder /gʌ npaʊdə r / N‑UNCOUNT Gunpowder is an explosive substance which is used to make fireworks or cause explosions.
gu n-runner (gun-runners ) in AM, use gunrunner N‑COUNT A gun-runner is someone who takes or sends guns into a country secretly and illegally.
gu n-running N‑UNCOUNT Gun-running is the activity of taking or sending guns into a country secretly and illegally.
gun|ship /gʌ nʃ I p/ (gunships ) → see helicopter gunship