rifling

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

noun the cutting of spiral grooves on the inside of the barrel of a firearm
verb steal goods; take as spoils
verb go through in search of something; search through someone's belongings in an unauthorized way

She evidently knew of the proposed rifling of the safe at the Consulate. — The Czar's Spy: The Mystery of a Silent Love, William Le Queux
They removed their prisoner to the ground and then commenced a systematic rifling of the vessel. — A princess of Mars, Edgar Rice Burroughs
Their rifling impressions of course would be identical, but the individual marks there would be entirely different. — Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, United States. Warren Commission

grooving

Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.

Try

A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning

From: —

Output

Worksheet Type (multi-select)

Scope

Difficulty

Max questions

0 words Min 50 words / Max 2,000 words