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 followed 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.
00:10
Aim
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is lollygag. Does it mean:
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
noun
Idioms 8.
the act of aiming or directing anything at or toward a particular point or target.
9.
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.
13.
take aim, to sight a target: to take aim and fire.
Origin:
1275–1325; late Middle English aimen < Anglo-French a(e)smer, eimer, Old French aesmer < Vulgar Latin *adaestimāre, equivalent to Latin ad- ad- + aestimāre (see estimate); replacing Middle English amen < Old French (dial.) amer < Latin aestimāre
1275–1325; late Middle English aimen < Anglo-French a(e)smer, eimer, Old French aesmer < Vulgar Latin *adaestimāre, equivalent to Latin ad- ad- + aestimāre (see estimate); replacing Middle English amen < Old French (dial.) amer < Latin aestimāre
Related forms
aim·er, noun
aim·ful, adjective
aim·ful·ly, adverb
mis·aim, verb, noun
un·aimed, adjective
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.
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
American Indian movement.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To aim
Collins
World English Dictionary
aim (eɪm) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 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; |
| 4. | (intr; |
| —n | |
| 5. | the action of directing something at an object |
| 6. | the direction in which something is pointed; line of sighting (esp in the phrase to take aim) |
| 7. | the object at which something is aimed; target |
| 8. | intention; purpose |
| [C14: via Old French aesmer from Latin aestimāre to | |
| AIM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| (in Britain) Alternative Investment Market | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
aim
early 14c., "to estimate, calculate," from O.Fr. esmar, from L. aestimare "appraise" (see estimation); current meaning apparently developed from "esteem," to "calculate," through "calculate with a view to action" (c.1400), then "calculate the direction of a missile" (1570s).
The noun is recorded from c.1400, originally "guess;" meaning "action of aiming" is from early 15c. (to take aim, originally make aim); that of "thing intended, purpose" is from 1620s. Related: Aimless (1620s).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
| AIM American Indian Movement |
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
If that is too subtle a point to make in a show for non-specialists, then the stated aim of this exhibition may be too ambitious.
Those who do point take a while to think about it and then aim in all possible directions.
His exuberance and boyish projection of triumph led to an addiction to taking aim from afar and wasting ammunition.
The science team aim to verify this preliminary conclusion.
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