goal

[gohl]
noun
1.
the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.
2.
the terminal point in a race.
3.
a pole, line, or other marker by which such a point is indicated.
4.
an area, basket, cage, or other object or structure toward or into which players of various games attempt to throw, carry, kick, hit, or drive a ball, puck, etc., to score a point or points.
5.
the act of throwing, carrying, kicking, driving, etc., a ball or puck into such an area or object.
6.
the score made by this act.
Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English gol boundary, limit; compare Old English gǣlan to hinder, impede

Related forms
goal·less, adjective
sub·goal, noun

Synonyms
1. target; purpose, object, objective, intent, intention. 2. finish.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To goal
00:10
Goal is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
goal (ɡəʊl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  the aim or object towards which an endeavour is directed
2.  the terminal point of a journey or race
3.  (in various sports) the net, basket, etc into or over which players try to propel the ball, puck, etc, to score
4.  sport
 a.  a successful attempt at scoring
 b.  the score so made
5.  (in soccer, hockey, etc) the position of goalkeeper
 
[C16: perhaps related to Middle English gol boundary, Old English gǣlan to hinder, impede]
 
'goalless
 
—adj

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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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

goal
1530s, "end point of a race," perhaps from O.E. *gal "obstacle, barrier," a word implied by gælan "to hinder." The word appears once before this, in a poem from early 14c. Football sense is attested from 1540s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary

goal definition

programming
In logic programming, a predicate applied to its arguments which the system attempts to prove by matching it against the clauses of the program. A goal may fail or it may succeed in one or more ways.
(1997-07-14)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © Denis Howe 2010 http://foldoc.org
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Example sentences
For a short window of time it was a free-for-all, as people worked shoulder to
  shoulder toward the same goal--gold.
Common welfare is the goal of our national endeavor.
Your goal is to develop an even, nicely browned surface without scorching.
The goal is for everyone to have enough beer to satisfy demand but not so much
  that it can't all be sold.
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