aim








verb (used with object)

  1. to position or direct (a firearm, ball, arrow, rocket, etc.) so that, on firing or release, the discharged projectile will hit a target or travel along a certain path.
  2. to intend or direct for a particular effect or purpose: to aim a satire at snobbery.

verb (used without object)

  1. to point or direct a gun, punch, etc., toward: He aimed at the target but missed it.
  2. to strive; try (usually followed by to or at): We aim to please. They aim at saving something every month.
  3. to intend: She aims to go tomorrow.
  4. to direct efforts, as toward an object: The satire aimed at modern greed.
  5. Obsolete. to estimate; guess.

noun

  1. the act of aiming or directing anything at or toward a particular point or target.
  2. the direction in which a weapon or missile is pointed; the line of sighting: within the cannon’s aim.
  3. the point intended to be hit; thing or person aimed at: to miss one’s aim.
  4. something intended or desired to be attained by one’s efforts; purpose: whatever his aim in life may be.
  5. Obsolete. conjecture; guess.
Idioms

  1. take aim, to sight a target: to take aim and fire.

noun

  1. American Indian Movement.

verb

  1. to point (a weapon, missile, etc) or direct (a blow) at a particular person or object; level
  2. (tr) to direct (satire, criticism, etc) at a person, object, etc
  3. (intr; foll by at or an infinitive) to propose or intendwe aim to leave early
  4. (intr; often foll by at or for) to direct one’s efforts or strive (towards)to aim at better communications; to aim high

noun

  1. the action of directing something at an object
  2. the direction in which something is pointed; line of sighting (esp in the phrase to take aim)
  3. the object at which something is aimed; target
  4. intention; purpose

abbreviation for

  1. (in Britain) Alternative Investment Market
v.

early 14c., “to estimate, calculate,” also “to intend,” from Old French aesmer “value, rate; count, estimate,” from Latin aestimare “appraise” (see estimation); current meaning apparently developed from “esteem,” to “calculate,” to “calculate with a view to action” (c.1400), then to “direct a missile, a blow, etc.” (1570s). Related: Aimed; aiming.

n.

early 14c., “target;” late 14c., “guess;” from aim (v.). Meaning “action of aiming” is from early 15c. (to take aim, originally make aim); that of “thing intended, purpose” is from 1620s.

In addition to the idiom beginning with aim

  • aim to

also see:

  • take aim
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