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aim - 9 dictionary results

aim

[eym]

Use aim in a Sentence

–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)

3.	to point or direct a gun, punch, etc., toward: He aimed at the target but missed it.

4.	to strive; try (usually fol. by to or at): We aim to please. They aim at saving something every month.

5.	to intend: She aims to go tomorrow.

6.	to direct efforts, as toward an object: The satire aimed at modern greed.

7.	Obsolete. to estimate; guess.

–noun

8.	the act of aiming or directing anything at or toward a particular point or target.

9.	the direction in which a weapon or missile is pointed; the line of sighting: within the cannon's aim.

10.	the point intended to be hit; thing or person aimed at: to miss one's aim.

11.	something intended or desired to be attained by one's efforts; purpose: whatever his aim in life may be.

12.	Obsolete. conjecture; guess.

—Idiom

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

Origin:
1275–1325; late ME aimen < AF a(e)smer, eimer, OF aesmer < VL *adaestimāre, equiv. to L ad- ad- + aestimāre (see estimate ); r. ME amen < OF (dial.) amer < L aestimāre

Related forms:

aimer, noun

aimful, adjective

aim⋅ful⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. point. 8. sighting. 10. target, objective. 11. goal; intent, design. Aim, end, object all imply something that is the goal of one's efforts. Aim implies that toward which one makes a direct line, refusing to be diverted from it: a nobleness of aim; one's aim in life. End emphasizes the goal as a cause of efforts: the end for which one strives. Object emphasizes the goal as that toward which all efforts are directed: the object of years of study.

AIM

[eym]

–noun

American Indian Movement.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To aim

aim (ām)

v. aimed, aim·ing, aims

v. tr.

To direct (a weapon) toward an intended target.
To direct toward or intend for a particular goal or group: The publicity campaign was aimed at improving the eating habits of children.

v. intr.

To direct a weapon: a gunner aiming carefully.
To determine a course or direct an effort: aim for a better education.
To propose to do something; intend: The historical society is aiming to restore the town hall.

1. The act of aiming.
2. Skill at hitting a target: The shooter's aim was perfect.
3. The line of fire of an aimed weapon.
4. The degree of accuracy of a weapon.
1. The line of fire of an aimed weapon.
2. The degree of accuracy of a weapon.
A purpose or intention toward which one's efforts are directed.
Obsolete A target; a mark.
Obsolete A conjecture; a guess.

[Middle English aimen, from Old French esmer, to estimate (from Latin aestimāre) and from Old French aesmer (from Vulgar Latin *ad estimāre : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin aestimāre, to estimate).]

Synonyms: These verbs mean to turn something toward an intended goal or target: aimed the camera at the guests; directing my eyes on the book; leveled criticism at the administration; pointing a finger at the suspect; trained the gun on the intruder. See Also Synonyms at intention.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Aim

Aim\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Aimed; p. pr. & vb. n. Aiming.] [OE. amen, aimen, eimen, to guess at, to estimate, to aim, OF. esmer, asmer, fr. L. aestimare to estimate; or perh. fr. OF. aesmer; ? (L. ad) + esmer. See Estimate.]

1. To point or direct a missile weapon, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it; as, to aim at a fox, or at a target.

2. To direct the indention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor; -- followed by at, or by an infinitive; as, to aim at distinction; to aim to do well.

Aim'st thou at princes? --Pope.

3. To guess or conjecture. [Obs.] --Shak.

Aim

Aim\, v. t. To direct or point, as a weapon, at a particular object; to direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an object; as, to aim a musket or an arrow, the fist or a blow (at something); to aim a satire or a reflection (at some person or vice).

Aim

Aim\, n. [Cf. OF. esme estimation, fr. esmer. See Aim, v. i.]

1. The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.

Each at the head leveled his deadly aim. --Milton.

2. The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.

To be the aim of every dangerous shot. --Shak.

3. Intention; purpose; design; scheme.

How oft ambitious aims are crossed! --Pope.

4. Conjecture; guess. [Obs.]

What you would work me to, I have some aim. --Shak.

To cry aim (Archery), to encourage. [Obs.] --Shak.

Syn: End; object; scope; drift; design; purpose; intention; scheme; tendency; aspiration.

Language Translation for : aim

Spanish: apuntar,

German: zielen (mit),

Japanese: ねらう

More Translations »

aim

1330, "to estimate, calculate," from O.Fr. esmar, from L. aestimare "appraise" (see estimation); current meaning apparently developed from "esteem," through "calculate with a view to action" (c.1400), then "calculate the direction of a missile" (1573).

aim

In addition to the idiom beginning with aim, also see take aim.

AIM
American Indian Movement

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