rifle

1
[ rahy-fuh l ]
/ ˈraɪ fəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR rifle ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a shoulder firearm with spiral grooves cut in the inner surface of the gun barrel to give the bullet a rotatory motion and thus a more precise trajectory.
one of the grooves.
a cannon with such grooves.
(often initial capital letter) rifles, any of certain military units or bodies equipped with rifles.

verb (used with object), ri·fled, ri·fling.

to cut spiral grooves within (a gun barrel, pipe, etc.).
to propel (a ball) at high speed, as by throwing or hitting with a bat.

Origin of rifle

1
1745–55; < Low German rīfeln to groove, derivative of rīve, riefe groove, flute, furrow; akin to Old English rifelede wrinkled

Words nearby rifle

riffage, riffle, riffler, riffola, riffraff, rifle, rifle bird, rifle green, rifle grenade, rifle pit, rifle range

Definition for rifle (2 of 2)

rifle 2
[ rahy-fuh l ]
/ ˈraɪ fəl /

verb (used with object), ri·fled, ri·fling.

to ransack and rob (a place, receptacle, etc.).
to search and rob (a person).
to plunder or strip bare.
to steal or take away.

Origin of rifle

2
1325–75; Middle English rifel < Old French rifler to scratch, strip, plunder

SYNONYMS FOR rifle

1 See rob.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR rifle ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM rifle

ri·fler, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rifle

riffle rifle

Words related to rifle

rip, rummage, trash, burglarize, pillage, rob, gut, sack, despoil, plunder, take, strip, loot, waste, grab, burgle

Example sentences from the Web for rifle

British Dictionary definitions for rifle (1 of 2)

rifle 1
/ (ˈraɪfəl) /

noun

  1. a firearm having a long barrel with a spirally grooved interior, which imparts to the bullet spinning motion and thus greater accuracy over a longer range
  2. (as modifier)rifle fire
(formerly) a large cannon with a rifled bore
one of the grooves in a rifled bore
(plural)
  1. a unit of soldiers equipped with rifles
  2. (capital when part of a name)the Rifle Brigade

verb (tr)

to cut or mould spiral grooves inside the barrel of (a gun)
to throw or hit (a ball) with great speed

Word Origin for rifle

C18: from Old French rifler to scratch; related to Low German rifeln from riefe groove, furrow

British Dictionary definitions for rifle (2 of 2)

rifle 2
/ (ˈraɪfəl) /

verb (tr)

to search (a house, safe, etc) and steal from it; ransack
to steal and carry off to rifle goods from a shop

Derived forms of rifle

rifler, noun

Word Origin for rifle

C14: from Old French rifler to plunder, scratch, of Germanic origin