center–fire
adjective
variants: less commonly
central–fire
Definition of center–fire
1 of a cartridge : fired by the striking of a hammer or firing pin upon a cap or primer at the center of the base —distinguished from rimfire
2 : designed for or adapted to the use of center-fire cartridges a center-fire rifle
Explore M-W
There's more!
Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.
Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:
- More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
- Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
- Advanced search features
- Ad free!
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up center–fire? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!