1.
cannon, artillery piece
A large, heavy weapon that fires projectiles. Refers to historical cannons and modern artillery.
大砲を撃つ。
To fire a cannon.
城壁に向けて大砲が放たれた。
Cannons were fired at the castle walls.
この博物館には江戸時代の大砲が展示されている。
Cannons from the Edo period are on display at this museum.
2.
big hitter, power hitter (figurative)
A person with great power or impact, especially a powerful batter in baseball. Used as a metaphor.
チームの大砲がホームランを打った。
The team's big hitter hit a home run.
四番打者は大砲タイプだ。
The cleanup batter is a power-hitter type.
新たな大砲を獲得して、打線がさらに強力になった。
By acquiring a new power hitter, the batting lineup became even stronger.
USAGE:
Sense 1 appears in historical, military, and museum contexts. Sense 2 is very common in baseball commentary, where 大砲 refers to a slugger or power hitter who can hit long balls.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 大砲を撃つ: to fire a cannon
- 大砲の音: the sound of a cannon
- チームの大砲: the team's big hitter
- 和製大砲: a Japanese-born power hitter (baseball)