Definition

Noun: - An act of shooting at a person or target from a moving vehicle, typically a car, as it passes by.

Usage

This term is used to describe a specific type of violent crime. It is a compound noun that functions as a single concept. - The primary usage is to label the criminal act itself. - It is often used in news reports, police statements, and discussions about urban violence.

Examples

• The gang violence escalated with a drive-by shooting last night.
• Police are investigating a drive-by shooting that left two people injured.
• Witnesses described hearing the rapid gunfire of a drive-by shooting.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used attributively (like an adjective) before another noun.
  • The city has seen a rise in drive-by shooting incidents.
• It can be part of a longer description of an event.
  • The victim was an innocent bystander caught in a drive-by shooting.

Variants and Related Words

• Drive-by (noun/adjective): Can be used informally as a shorter form, especially in attributive positions.
  • A drive-by attack; the perpetrators fled in a drive-by.
• Shooting (noun): The general act of firing a gun.
• Assassination (noun): A murder, typically of a prominent person, which could be carried out via a drive-by shooting.

Synonyms

• Ambush shooting: Emphasizes the element of surprise from a concealed position.
• Mobile shooting: A more general, less common term focusing on the act of shooting from a moving vehicle.

Notes on Meaning

This term specifically denotes the method of the attack (shooting from a moving vehicle) rather than the motive. The motive could be gang-related, targeted assassination, or an act of random violence. The core meaning is contained in the full compound phrase "drive-by shooting."

Noun

1. shooting someone from a car as it is driven past the victim