Gunner
'ɡʌnər
Definitions
2 meaningsA person who operates a gun, especially in a military or naval context.
'ɡʌnər
A person who operates a gun, especially a soldier or member of a ship's crew responsible for operating artillery.
The gunner expertly loaded the cannon.
💡 Simply: Imagine a soldier on a battlefield, or a sailor on a ship. The gunner is the person whose job it is to shoot the big guns, making sure they hit their target. They're good at aiming and firing.
👶 For kids: Someone who uses a gun. Like a soldier or a person on a ship who shoots cannons.
More Examples
The ship's gunner quickly reloaded the weapon.
He trained to be a gunner in the army.
How It's Used
"The gunner adjusted the sights of the artillery piece before firing at the enemy position."
"During the battle, the ship's gunners worked tirelessly to defend against enemy attacks."
In sports, a player who takes many shots.
'ɡʌnər
A player in some sports (e.g., basketball) who is known for taking many shots at the goal.
He's known as a gunner for his high volume of shots taken during the game.
💡 Simply: This is a sports term. In basketball and other sports, a gunner is a player who loves to shoot the ball, and takes a lot of shots, whether they're likely to score or not.
👶 For kids: A player who takes a lot of shots in a game.
More Examples
The coach told the gunner to pass the ball more.
The gunner on the team attempted a shot to win the game.
How It's Used
"The team needed to score some points, so the gunner went in and shot the ball."
From 'gun' + '-er', denoting a person who operates a gun. The term's usage is rooted in military and nautical contexts, where it originally referred to someone responsible for the operation and maintenance of cannons and other large guns.
Historically, 'gunner' was a crucial role in naval warfare, dating back to the era of sailing ships and cannons. The skill of a gunner could determine the outcome of a battle.
Memory tip
Think of someone skillfully aiming a gun. 'Gunner' is the one in charge of shooting it.
Word Origin
"One who operates a gun; deriving from 'gunne' (cannon, weapon) and the suffix '-er' (agent noun)."