Firearm vs. Gun — What's the Difference?

A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions).

A gun is a ranged weapon designed to use a shooting tube (gun barrel) to launch typically solid projectiles, but can also project pressurized liquid (e.g. water guns/cannons, spray guns for painting or pressure washing, projected water disruptors, and technically also flamethrowers), gas (e.g.

A weapon, especially a pistol or rifle, capable of firing a projectile and using an explosive charge as a propellant.

A portable firearm, such as a rifle or revolver.

A personal weapon that uses explosive powder to propel a projectile often made of lead.

A cannon with a long barrel and a relatively low angle of fire.

A gun, pistol, or any weapon from which a shot is discharged by the force of an explosive substance, as gunpowder.

A device resembling a firearm or cannon, as in its ability to project something, such as grease or paint, under pressure or at great speed.

A portable gun;

A discharge of a firearm or cannon as a signal or salute

One who is armed with or skilled in the use of a gun.

The throttle of an engine, as of an automobile.

Guns(Slang) The biceps muscles of the arms.

To shoot (a person)

To open the throttle of (an engine) so as to accelerate

To hunt with a gun.

A device for projecting a hard object very forcefully; a firearm or cannon.

A very portable, short firearm, for hand use, which fires bullets or projectiles, such as a handgun, revolver, pistol, or Derringer.

A less portable, long firearm that fires bullets or projectiles; a rifle, either manual, automatic or semi-automatic; a flintlock, musket or shotgun.

(military) A cannon with relatively long barrel, operating with relatively low angle of fire, and having a high muzzle velocity.

(military) A cannon with a 6-inch/155mm minimum nominal bore diameter and tube length 30 calibers or more. See also: howitzer; mortar.

(figurative) A firearm or cannon used for saluting or signalling.^{21-gun salute}

A device operated by a trigger and acting in a manner similar to a firearm.

Any implement designed to fire a projectile from a tube.

A device or tool that projects a substance.

A device or tool that applies something rather than projecting it.

(surfing) A long surfboard designed for surfing big waves (not the same as a longboard, a gun has a pointed nose and is generally a little narrower).

(cellular automata) A pattern that "fires" out other patterns.

A person who carries or uses a rifle, shotgun or handgun.

(television) An electron gun.

The biceps.

Violent blasts of wind.

An expert.

Someone excellent, surpassingly wonderful, or cool.

A magsman or street thief.

(transitive) To cause to speed up.

(informal) To offer vigorous support to (a person or cause).

(informal) (gunning for something or gunning to do something) make a great effort.

To seek to attack someone; to take aim at someone; used with for.

To practice fowling or hunting small game; chiefly in participial form: to go gunning.

To masturbate while observing and visible to a corrections officer.

Nonstandard spelling of going to

A weapon which throws or propels a missile to a distance; any firearm or instrument for throwing projectiles, consisting of a tube or barrel closed at one end, in which the projectile is placed, with an explosive charge (such as guncotton or gunpowder) behind, which is ignited by various means. Pistols, rifles, carbines, muskets, and fowling pieces are smaller guns, for hand use, and are called small arms. Larger guns are called cannon, ordnance, fieldpieces, carronades, howitzers, etc. See these terms in the Vocabulary.

A piece of heavy ordnance; in a restricted sense, a cannon.

Violent blasts of wind.

To practice fowling or hunting small game; - chiefly in participial form; as, to go gunning.

A weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

Large but transportable armament

A person who shoots a gun (as regards their ability)

A professional killer who uses a gun

A hand-operated pump that resembles a gun; forces grease into parts of a machine

A pedal that controls the throttle valve;

The discharge of a gun as signal or as a salute in military ceremonies;

Shoot with a gun