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aim

 - 6 dictionary results

aim

  [eym]
–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.
Use aim in a Sentence
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. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To aim
aim   (ām)   
v.   aimed, aim·ing, aims

v.   tr.

  1. To direct (a weapon) toward an intended target.

  2. 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.

  1. To direct a weapon: a gunner aiming carefully.

  2. To determine a course or direct an effort: aim for a better education.

  3. To propose to do something; intend: The historical society is aiming to restore the town hall.

n.  

    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.

  3. A purpose or intention toward which one's efforts are directed.

  4. Obsolete A target; a mark.

  5. 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.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

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).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

aim

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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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.
Cite This Source
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