rapid fire


nounMilitary.
  1. a rate of firing small arms that is intermediate between slow fire and quick fire.

Words Nearby rapid fire

Other definitions for rapid-fire (2 of 2)

rapid-fire
[ rap-id-fahyuhr ]

adjective
  1. characterized by, delivered, or occurring in rapid succession: rapid-fire questions; rapid-fire events.

  2. Military. discharging in rapid fire: rapid-fire rifles.

  1. discharging, operating, etc., at a rate more rapid than normal: a rapid-fire staple gun.

Origin of rapid-fire

2
First recorded in 1885–90

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use rapid fire in a sentence

  • Mixed in with his rapid-fire prophecies are plenty of provocative assessments of the present.

  • The men who remained behind had a command to keep up a rapid fire over the enemy trenches which would lend us some cover.

    Private Peat | Harold R. Peat
  • "No more do I. I'm getting dizzy over all this rapid-fire business," added the lad.

    The Pony Rider Boys in Texas | Frank Gee Patchin
  • Through their night-glasses they saw a picket boat with rapid-fire guns lying close in the shadows of the shore.

    Historic Adventures | Rupert S. Holland
  • With a rapid-fire gun to reply the Merrimac might have demolished the other boat in half a minute, but she had no such equipment.

    Historic Adventures | Rupert S. Holland
  • Schlesinger spoke very little English, and Clemens always had difficulty in comprehending rapid-fire German.

British Dictionary definitions for rapid fire

rapid fire

noun
  1. a fast rate of gunfire

adjectiverapid-fire
    • firing shots rapidly

    • denoting medium-calibre mounted guns designed for rapid fire

  1. done, delivered, or occurring in rapid succession

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012