Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

center-fire

adjective
variants: or less commonly central-fire \ˈ⸗⸗ˌ⸗ \

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

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!

Learn More about center-fire

Share center-fire

Statistics for center-fire

Look-up Popularity

Comments on center-fire

What made you want to look up center-fire? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

repartee

amusing and light sparring with words

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Late Autumn 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

  • frosted-autumn-leaves
  • Which is a synonym of yahoo?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games