Definition

1. Noun:
   • A soldier who operates a machine gun: A "machine gunner" is a military personnel specifically trained to fire and maintain a machine gun, a fully automatic firearm designed for sustained rapid fire.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The machine gunner provided covering fire for the advancing infantry.
  • His role in the unit was as a machine gunner.
  • The position of the machine gunner was crucial for defending the outpost.

Advanced Usage

• "Lead machine gunner": The primary or most experienced operator of a machine gun in a squad or team.
  • As the lead machine gunner, he was responsible for coordinating the team's suppressive fire.

Variants and Related Words

• Machine-gun (verb): To fire upon with or as if with a machine gun.
  • The aircraft began to machine-gun the enemy trenches.
• Gunner (noun): A general term for a soldier who operates a large gun or artillery piece. (Note: This is a broader category that can include a machine gunner.)

Synonyms

• Automatic rifleman: A soldier armed with an automatic rifle, a role similar to a machine gunner in some modern infantry units.

Related Phrases

• "Man the machine gun": To take up the position and duty of operating a machine gun.
  • When the alarm sounded, he rushed to man the machine gun.

Noun

1. a serviceman in the artillery