Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To direct (a weapon or camera) toward a point.
  • intransitive verb To direct or propel (an object, such as a ball) toward a point.
  • intransitive verb To direct toward or intend for a particular goal or group.
  • intransitive verb To direct a weapon or camera.
  • intransitive verb To direct or propel an object toward a point.
  • intransitive verb To determine a course or direct an effort.
  • intransitive verb To propose to do something; intend.
  • noun The act of aiming.
  • noun The ability to hit a target or intended point.
  • noun The degree of accuracy of a weapon or of a person aiming a weapon or propelled object.
  • noun A purpose or intention toward which one's efforts are directed: synonym: intention.
  • idiom (take aim) To aim a weapon or object to be propelled.
  • idiom (take aim) To direct criticism or one's attention at something.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Conjecture; guess.
  • noun Course; direction: in particular, the direction in which a missile is pointed; the line of shot.
  • noun The act of aiming or directing anything (as a weapon, a blow, a discourse, or a remark) at or toward a particular point or object with the intention of striking or affecting it; the pointing or directing of a missile.
  • noun The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be affected; the mark or target.
  • noun A purpose; intention; design; scheme: as, men are often disappointed of their aim.
  • To esteem; consider. To estimate; guess; conjecture. Wyclif. To calculate; devise; intend.
  • To direct or point at something; level: as, to aim the fist or a blow; to aim a satire or a reflection at some person or vice.
  • To give a certain direction and elevation to (a gun, cannon, arrow, etc.), for the purpose of causing the projectile, when the weapon is discharged, to hit the object intended to be struck: as, to aim a gun.
  • To estimate; guess; conjecture.
  • To direct one's intention, purpose, or action, as to the attainment or accomplishment of something; intend; endeavor: as, a man aims at distinction; aim to be just in all you do.
  • To direct or point anything, as a weapon or missile, toward an object.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To direct or point, as a weapon, at a particular object; to direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an object
  • intransitive verb To point or direct a missile weapon, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it.
  • intransitive verb To direct the indention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor; -- followed by at, or by an infinitive
  • intransitive verb obsolete To guess or conjecture.
  • noun The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.
  • noun The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.
  • noun Intention; purpose; design; scheme.
  • noun obsolete Conjecture; guess.
  • noun (Archery), [Obs.] to encourage.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, or object, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.
  • noun The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.
  • noun Intention; purpose; design; scheme.
  • verb intransitive To point or direct a missile weapon, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it; as, to aim at a fox, or at a target.
  • verb intransitive To direct the intention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor;—followed by at, or by an infinitive; as, to aim at distinction; to aim to do well.
  • verb transitive To direct or point, as a weapon, at a particular object; to direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an object; as, to aim a musket or an arrow, the fist or a blow (at something); to aim a satire or a reflection (at some person or vice).
  • initialism AIM; AOL Instant Messenger.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public
  • noun the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable)
  • noun the action of directing something at an object
  • verb move into a desired direction of discourse
  • verb point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
  • verb propose or intend
  • verb have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[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).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English amen, aimen, eimen, Old French esmer, asmer, from Medieval Latin adaestimare, from Latin aestimare; or perhaps from Old French aesmer, from Latin ad- + esmer.

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Examples

Comments

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  • "And do you miss your wife?"

    "Yes, but my aim's improving."

    From 'Lost' by Michael Robotham.

    January 23, 2009

  • "The Spaniards have been reduced to aiming aimless balls into the box."

    - football manager Ron Atkinson.

    September 10, 2009