| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
| |
| aim |
| |
| PRONUNCIATION: |   m |
| VERB: | Inflected forms: aimed, aim·ing, aims
| | TRANSITIVE VERB: | 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. | | INTRANSITIVE VERB: | 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. | | NOUN: | 1a. The act of aiming. b. Skill at hitting a target: The shooter's aim was perfect. 2a. The line of fire of an aimed weapon. b. 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. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English aimen, from Old French esmer, to estimate (from Latin aestimre) and from Old French aesmer (from Vulgar Latin *ad estimre ( Latin ad-, ad- + Latin aestimre, to estimate). | | SYNONYMS: | aim, direct, level, point, train 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 © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
|
|
