rifle

/ˈraɪfəl/
noun
  1. A long gun that is fired from the shoulder and has spiral grooves inside the barrel to make the bullet spin and travel more accurately.
    • Soldiers are trained to clean and maintain their rifles after every mission.
    • She aimed the rifle carefully at the target and pulled the trigger.
    • The hunter carried a rifle over his shoulder as he walked through the forest.
Synonyms
verb
  1. To search quickly and roughly through something, often in order to steal things.
    • The thief rifled through the drawers looking for cash and jewelry.
    • The police found that the office had been rifled but nothing was taken.
    • Someone had rifled my backpack while I was in the library.
  2. To hit or throw something with great force and speed.
    • The quarterback rifled the football down the field to the wide receiver.
    • She rifled a fastball past the batter for a strikeout.
    • He rifled the stone into the pond, sending up a big splash.