rifle

Everyday

1. A long gun fired from the shoulder, with spiral grooves inside the barrel so the bullet spins and flies straight. tree →
2. (verb) To search quickly and roughly through something, often to steal: «The burglar rifled through the drawers.» tree →
3. (verb, sport) To hit or kick a ball very hard and straight: «He rifled the ball into the net.» tree →

In the lessons

Soldiers, hunters and farmers use rifles; in history the rifle changed wars. In stories, «rifled through» shows someone searching messily or secretly. Safety: real guns are never toys; if you find one, do not touch it, leave and tell an adult. In football or cricket reports, «rifled» means hit hard.

Examples

• The soldier carried a rifle on his shoulder. tree →
• Someone had rifled through my schoolbag. tree →
• She rifled through the cupboard looking for her shoes. tree →
• The striker rifled the ball into the top corner. tree →
• Farmers in Australia may use a rifle to protect sheep from foxes. tree →
• Never touch a rifle or any gun; tell an adult straight away. tree →
• So he took up a rifle which he had laid at his bedside. tree →

Note

The noun is countable. «Rifle» (search) and «rifle» (gun) are the same spelling with different meanings. Do not confuse with «riffle» (to flick through pages quickly).

In Jewish tradition

Soldiers, hunters and farmers use rifles; in history the rifle changed wars. In stories, «rifled through» shows someone searching messily or secretly. Safety: real guns are never toys; if you find one, do not touch it, leave and tell an adult. In football or cricket reports, «rifled» means hit hard.

Note

The noun is countable. «Rifle» (search) and «rifle» (gun) are the same spelling with different meanings. Do not confuse with «riffle» (to flick through pages quickly).