noun / adjective
shooting
SHOO-ting/ˈʃuːtɪŋ/
The firing of a projectile.
During the shooting, a woman ducks behind a low concrete barrier.
Etymology
The shoot root with an action-noun ending first named the act of shooting, including arrows from a bow. The selected meaning turns that activity into a particular incident involving gunfire directed at people.
In context
The second verse is preluded with a happy choir, who's gunned down by Gambino. It's impossible not to draw parallels with the Charleston church shooting
More examples
- She practices target shooting at the range every Saturday.
- Police are investigating two shootings near the station.
- The shooting stops when the instructor raises a hand.
Forms
Similar words
- gunfire
- Specifically refers to shots fired from guns, not other weapons.
- discharge
- Names the firing of a weapon, often in technical contexts.