aim
The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, or object, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, such as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.
Noun
- The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, or object, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, such as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.
- to take aim
- Take time with the aim of your gun.
- 2012, "The Legend of the Gobblewonker", season 1, episode 2 of Gravity Falls, spoken by Grunkle Stan, voiced by Alex Hirsch My ex-wife still misses me, but her aim is getting better!
- The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.
- Intention or goal.
- My number one aim in life is to make money to make my parents, siblings, and kids happy.
- There is no doubt at all that this is the future of machinery, and just as trees grow while the country gentleman is asleep, so while Humanity will be amusing itself, or enjoying cultivated leisure—which, and not...
- As a matter of fact the Enlightment culture was based on a philosophy inspired to an ethical laicism whose aim was to create a better society based on principles such as solidarity, equality of rights and duties, and...
- The ability of someone to aim straight; one’s faculty for being able to hit a physical target.
- The police officer has excellent aim, always hitting the bullseye in shooting practice.
- He has a bad aim, so he decided to join archery classes.
- Conjecture; guess.
- What you would work me to, I have some aim. - 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […]...
Origin
The verb is from Middle English amen, aimen, eimen (“to guess at, to estimate, to aim”), borrowed from Old French esmer, aesmer, asmer, from Latin ad- plus aestimare (“to estimate”), the compound perhaps being originally formed in Medieval Latin (adaestimare), perhaps in Old French. The noun is from Middle English ame, from Old French aesme, esme.
Forms
Synonyms
aspiration design end ettle intention mint object purpose scheme scope tendency
Derived
aim assist aimbot aim community aim-crier aimful aimless aimpoint aimworthy cry aim take aim
Noun abbreviation, alt of
- Initialism of America Online AIM; AOL Instant Messenger.
Verb
- To point or direct a missile, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it
- He aimed at the target, but the arrow flew straight over it.
- To direct the intention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor;—followed by at, or by an infinitive
- to aim at a pass
- to aim to do well in life
- The stories did not seem to me to touch life. They were plainly intended to have a bracing moral effect, and perhaps had this result for the people at whom they were aimed. - 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston...
- To direct or point (e.g. a weapon), at a particular object; to direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an object
- to aim an arrow at the deer
- She aimed a punch at her ex-boyfriend.
- He aimed the gun at him and he held his hands up in surrender.
Synonyms: point
- To direct (something verbal) towards a certain person, thing, or group
- to aim a satirical comment at Communists in general
- To guess or conjecture.
- But, good my lord, do it so cunningly / That my discovery be not aimed at; - c. 1589–1593, William Shakespeare, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, act 3, scene 1, lines 44–45:
Forms
Derived
aimable aim at aimer aim for aim for the sky aim for the stars aim high misaim ready fire! reaim unaiming