Link Centre Dictionary

target

tar·get

UK/ˈtɑː.ɡɪt/ US/ˈtʰɑː.ɡɪt/ common uk

noun

1.

a reference point to shoot at

  • “his arrow hit the mark”
Synonyms
2.

a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence

  • “he fell prey to muggers”
  • “everyone was fair game”
  • “the target of a manhunt”
3.

the location of the target that is to be hit

Synonyms
4.

sports equipment consisting of an object set up for a marksman or archer to aim at

Synonyms
5.

the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable)

  • “the sole object of her trip was to see her children”

verb

1.

intend (something) to move towards a certain goal

  • “He aimed his fists towards his opponent”
  • “;”
  • “;”

Origin

From Middle French targette, targuete, diminutive of targe (“light shield”), from Old French, from Frankish *targa (“buckler”), akin to Old Norse targa (“small round shield”) (whence also Old English targe, targa (“shield”)) from Proto-Germanic *targǭ (“edge”), from Proto-Indo-European *derǵʰ- (“fenced lot”). Akin to Old High German zarga (“side wall, rim”) (German Zarge (“frame”)), Spanish tarjeta (“card”).

Phrases

  • digital target
  • digitized target
  • drop target
  • easy target
  • high-value target
  • moving target
  • off target
  • on target

Related words

Word family

Part of

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.