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| ri·fle [ rf'l ] |
noun (plural ri·fles) |
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| Definition: |
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1. long gun: a gun with a long barrel that is fired from the shoulder. Spiral grooves inside the barrel make the bullet spin, improving its accuracy over a long distance.
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2. cannon: a large cannon with spirals cut into the bore
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plural noun ri·fles or Ri·fles |
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| Definition: |
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soldiers with rifles: a unit of soldiers armed with rifles
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transitive verb (past and past participle ri·fled, present participle ri·fling, 3rd person present singular ri·fles) |
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| Definition: |
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1. cut groove in gun barrel: to cut spiral grooves on the inside of a gun barrel
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2. throw very fast ball: to hit or throw a ball hard, making it travel very fast
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| [Late 17th century. < French rifler "scratch"] |
