Start firing a weapon.

synonym: fire.

Roget 716: attack, assault, assail; invade; set upon, fall upon; charge, impugn, break a lance with, enter the lists.    assume the offensive, take the offensive; be the aggressor, become the aggressor; strike the first blow, draw first blood, throw the first stone at; lift a hand against, draw the sword against; take up the cudgels; advance against, march against; march upon, harry; come on, show fight.    strike at, poke at, thrust at; aim a blow at, deal a blow at; give one a blow, fetch one a blow, fetch one a kick, give one a kick; have a cut at, have a shot at, take a cut at, take a shot at, have a fling at, have a shy at; be down upon, pounce upon; fall foul of, pitch into, launch out against; bait, slap on the face; make a thrust at, make a pass at, make a set at, make a dead set at; bear down upon.    close with, come to close quarters; bring to bay.    ride full tilt against; attack tooth and nail, go at hammer and tongs.    let fly at, dash at, run a tilt at, rush at, tilt at, run at, fly at, hawk at, have at, let out at; make a dash, make a rush at; strike home; drive one hard; press one hard; be hard upon, run down, strike at the root of.    lay about one, run amuck.    aim at, draw a bead on [U.S.].    fire upon, fire at, fire a shot at; shoot at, pop at, level at, let off a gun at; open fire, pepper, bombard, shell, pour a broadside into; fire a volley, fire red-hot shot; spring a mine.    throw a stone, throw stones at; stone, lapidate^†, pelt; hurl at, hurl against, hurl at the head of; rock beset [U.S.], besiege, beleaguer; lay siege to, invest, open the trenches, plant a battery, sap, mine; storm, board, scale the walls.    cut and thrust, bayonet, butt; kick, strike etc. (impulse) 276; whip etc. (punish) 972.    [attack verbally] assail, impugn; malign (detract) 934.    bomb, rocket, blast.    ... show more

Roget 66: begin, start, commence; conceive, open, dawn, set in, take its rise, enter upon, enter; set out etc. (depart) 293; embark in; incept^†.    initiate, launch, inaugurate.    inchoate, rise, arise, originate.    usher in; lead off, lead the way; take the lead, take the initiative; head; stand at the head, stand first, stand for; lay the foundations etc. (prepare) 673; found etc. (cause) 153; set up, set on foot, agoing^†, set abroach^†, set the ball in motion; apply the match to a train; broach; open up, open the door to.    get underway, set about, get to work, set to work, set to; make a beginning, make a start.    handsel; take the first step, lay the first stone, cut the first turf; break ground, break the ice, break cover; pass the Rubicon, cross the Rubicon; open fire, open the ball; ventilate, air; undertake etc. 676.    come into existence, come into the world; make one's debut, take birth; burst forth, break out; spring up, spring forth, crop up, pop up, appear, materialize.    begin at the beginning, begin ab ovo [Lat.].    begin again, begin de novo; start afresh, make a fresh start, take it from the top, shuffle the cards, reshuffle the cards, resume, recommence.    ... show more