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like a shot

 - 5 dictionary results

shot

1[shot] noun, plural shots or, for 6, 8, shot; verb, shot⋅ted, shot⋅ting.
–noun
1. a discharge of a firearm, bow, etc.
2. the range of or the distance traveled by a missile in its flight.
3. an aimed discharge of a missile.
4. an attempt to hit a target with a missile.
5. an act or instance of shooting a firearm, bow, etc.
6. a small ball or pellet of lead, a number of which are loaded in a cartridge and used for one charge of a shotgun.
7. such pellets collectively: a charge of shot.
8. a projectile for discharge from a firearm or cannon.
9. such projectiles collectively: shot and shell.
10. a person who shoots; marksman: He was a good shot.
11. Slang. a blow; punch: The prizefighter was knocked out by a shot in the chin.
12. anything like a shot, esp. in being sudden and forceful.
13. a heavy metal ball that competitors cast as far as possible in shot-putting contests.
14. an aimed stroke, throw, or the like, as in certain games, esp. in an attempt to score.
15. an attempt or try: He's entitled to a shot at the championship.
16. a remark aimed at some person or thing.
17. a guess at something.
18. a hypodermic injection, as of a serum, vaccine, narcotic, or anaesthetic: He took a series of immunizing shots for hay fever.
19. a small quantity, esp. an ounce, of undiluted liquor.
20. an amount due, esp. at a tavern.
21. Photography.
a. a photograph, esp. a snapshot: Here's a nice shot of my kids.
b. the act of making a photograph, esp. a snapshot.
22. Movies, Television. a unit of action photographed without interruption and constituting a single camera view.
23. an explosive charge in place for detonation, as in mining or quarrying.
24. Metallurgy. comparatively hard globules of metal in the body of a casting.
25. Nautical. a 90-foot (27-m) length of anchor cable or chain.
26. Checkers. a compulsory series of exchanges, especially when it proves favorable to the aggressor.
27. Textiles.
a. a pick sent through the shed in a single throw of the shuttle.
b. (in carpet weaving) filling yarn used to bind the pile to the fabric, usually expressed with a preceding number representing the quantity of picks used: three-shot carpet.
c. a defect in a fabric caused by an unusual color or size in the yarn.
28. a chance with odds for and against; a bet: a 20 to 1 shot that his horse will come in first.
–verb (used with object)
29. to load or supply with shot.
30. to weight with shot.
–verb (used without object)
31. to manufacture shot, as in a shot tower.
32. by a long shot. long shot (def. 4).
33. call one's shots, Informal. to indicate beforehand what one intends to do and how one intends to do it.
34. call the shots, Informal. to have the power or authority to make decisions or control policy: Now that he's chairman of the board, he calls the shots.
35. have or take a shot at, make an attempt at: I'll have a shot at solving the problem.
36. like a shot, instantly; quickly: He bolted out of here like a shot.
37. shot in the arm, Informal. something that results in renewed vigor, confidence, etc.; stimulus: Her recent promotion has given her a shot in the arm. The new members gave the club a shot in the arm.
38. shot in the dark, Informal. a wild guess; a random conjecture.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE sc(e)ot, (ge)sceot; c. G Schoss, Geschoss; akin to shoot


shotless, adjective
shotlike, adjective


15. chance, go, essay.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To like a shot
shot 1   (shŏt)   
n.  
  1. The firing or discharge of a weapon, such as a gun.

  2. The distance over which something is shot; the range.

    1. An attempt to hit a target with a projectile: His shot at the bear missed by inches.

    2. An attempt to reach a target with a rocket: a moon shot.

    3. Sports An attempt to score in a game, as in soccer or hockey.

    4. Baseball A home run.

    5. The flight or path of a projectile in a game.

    6. A stroke in a game, as in golf or billiards.

    7. An attempt; a try: took a shot at losing weight.

    8. A guess.

    9. An opportunity: gave him a fair shot at the part in the play.

    10. A chance at odds; something to bet on: The horse was a four-to-one shot.

    11. A solid projectile designed to be discharged from a firearm or cannon.

    12. pl. shot Such projectiles considered as a group.

    13. pl. shot Tiny lead or steel pellets, especially ones used in a shotgun cartridge.

    14. One of these pellets.

    15. A charge of explosives used in blasting mine shafts.

    16. A detonation of an explosive charge.

    17. A photographic view or exposure: got a good shot of that last model.

    18. A developed photographic image.

    19. A single cinematic take.

    20. A hypodermic injection.

    21. A small amount given or applied at one time: a shot of oxygen.

    1. Sports An attempt to score in a game, as in soccer or hockey.

    2. Baseball A home run.

    3. The flight or path of a projectile in a game.

    4. A stroke in a game, as in golf or billiards.

    5. An attempt; a try: took a shot at losing weight.

    6. A guess.

    7. An opportunity: gave him a fair shot at the part in the play.

    8. A chance at odds; something to bet on: The horse was a four-to-one shot.

    9. A solid projectile designed to be discharged from a firearm or cannon.

    10. pl. shot Such projectiles considered as a group.

    11. pl. shot Tiny lead or steel pellets, especially ones used in a shotgun cartridge.

    12. One of these pellets.

    13. A charge of explosives used in blasting mine shafts.

    14. A detonation of an explosive charge.

    15. A photographic view or exposure: got a good shot of that last model.

    16. A developed photographic image.

    17. A single cinematic take.

    18. A hypodermic injection.

    19. A small amount given or applied at one time: a shot of oxygen.

  3. Sports & Games

    1. The flight or path of a projectile in a game.

    2. A stroke in a game, as in golf or billiards.

    3. An attempt; a try: took a shot at losing weight.

    4. A guess.

    5. An opportunity: gave him a fair shot at the part in the play.

    6. A chance at odds; something to bet on: The horse was a four-to-one shot.

    7. A solid projectile designed to be discharged from a firearm or cannon.

    8. pl. shot Such projectiles considered as a group.

    9. pl. shot Tiny lead or steel pellets, especially ones used in a shotgun cartridge.

    10. One of these pellets.

    11. A charge of explosives used in blasting mine shafts.

    12. A detonation of an explosive charge.

    13. A photographic view or exposure: got a good shot of that last model.

    14. A developed photographic image.

    15. A single cinematic take.

    16. A hypodermic injection.

    17. A small amount given or applied at one time: a shot of oxygen.

  4. A pointed or critical remark.

  5. Informal

    1. An attempt; a try: took a shot at losing weight.

    2. A guess.

    3. An opportunity: gave him a fair shot at the part in the play.

    4. A chance at odds; something to bet on: The horse was a four-to-one shot.

    5. A solid projectile designed to be discharged from a firearm or cannon.

    6. pl. shot Such projectiles considered as a group.

    7. pl. shot Tiny lead or steel pellets, especially ones used in a shotgun cartridge.

    8. One of these pellets.

    9. A charge of explosives used in blasting mine shafts.

    10. A detonation of an explosive charge.

    11. A photographic view or exposure: got a good shot of that last model.

    12. A developed photographic image.

    13. A single cinematic take.

    14. A hypodermic injection.

    15. A small amount given or applied at one time: a shot of oxygen.

    1. A solid projectile designed to be discharged from a firearm or cannon.

    2. pl. shot Such projectiles considered as a group.

    3. pl. shot Tiny lead or steel pellets, especially ones used in a shotgun cartridge.

    4. One of these pellets.

    5. A charge of explosives used in blasting mine shafts.

    6. A detonation of an explosive charge.

    7. A photographic view or exposure: got a good shot of that last model.

    8. A developed photographic image.

    9. A single cinematic take.

    10. A hypodermic injection.

    11. A small amount given or applied at one time: a shot of oxygen.

  6. Sports The heavy metal ball that is put for distance in the shot put.

  7. One who shoots in a particular way: a good shot with the rifle and the bow.

    1. A charge of explosives used in blasting mine shafts.

    2. A detonation of an explosive charge.

    3. A photographic view or exposure: got a good shot of that last model.

    4. A developed photographic image.

    5. A single cinematic take.

    6. A hypodermic injection.

    7. A small amount given or applied at one time: a shot of oxygen.

    1. A photographic view or exposure: got a good shot of that last model.

    2. A developed photographic image.

    3. A single cinematic take.

    4. A hypodermic injection.

    5. A small amount given or applied at one time: a shot of oxygen.

    1. A hypodermic injection.

    2. A small amount given or applied at one time: a shot of oxygen.

  8. A drink, especially a jigger of liquor.

  9. An amount to be paid, as for drinks; a bill.

  10. Nautical A length of chain equal to 15 fathoms (90 feet) in the United States and 12 1/2 fathoms (75 feet) in Great Britain.

tr.v.   shot·ted, shot·ting, shots
To load or weight with shot.

[Middle English, from Old English sceot, scot; see skeud- in Indo-European roots.]
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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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2shot
past and past participle of SHOOT
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

shot (shŏt)
n.

  1. A hypodermic injection.

  2. A small amount given or applied at one time.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Idioms & Phrases

like a shot

Very rapidly, as in When they asked for volunteers, he raised his hand like a shot. This expression alludes to the rapidity of gunfire. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

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