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.
- 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.
- 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.
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
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Without the power to do anything, sensitivity becomes our main aim, the aim is not so much to do anything, as to be judged.
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The library's main aim is to educate and inspire disenfranchised children who have seen arts education cut from their school curricula, said library and foundation president Valerie Ervin.
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The library's main aim is to educate and inspire disenfranchised children who have seen arts education cut from their school curricula, said library and foundation president Valerie Ervin.
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Without the power to do anything, sensitivity becomes our main aim, the aim is not so much to do anything, as to be judged.
Archive 2009-12-01 2009
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The judge decided that the Hungarian Guard's main aim is to spread fear among Gypsies.
Global Voices in English » Hungary: The Hungarian Guard Banned 2009
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But I'm not sure I'd recommend it for someone whose main aim is to get from point A to point B with most of their limbs intact.
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The other main aim is to look how we can increase the use of the system by citizens.
Archive 2008-05-01 2008
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You could have the ‘generally lazy but remarkably unhelpful’ instead of the ‘bored but capable’ as one of the essential non police staff whose main aim is to reinforce all the urgent and important things from the world where messages ‘really’ matter and the foundations of empire building are well on the way to approval by the forces that do stuff.
Cross and Rude. « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2008
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I have seen war up close and personal, when 1 side will not talk and whose main aim is to destroy the other sides country then the side who has been attacked for many months without a military response IMHO has every right to defend itself.
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One main aim is to discover the elusive Higgs Boson, the so-called "God Particle," which will, presumably, unfold the secrets of the universe and allow us to know the "mind of God" as some hyper-enthusiastic scientists aver.
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That’s a phrase we use in discussing the big con: taking dead aim—deeply researching somebody’s habits.”
Ricky Jay’s Magical Secrets Condé Nast 1993
gangerh commented on the word aim
"And do you miss your wife?"
"Yes, but my aim's improving."
From 'Lost' by Michael Robotham.
January 23, 2009
bilby commented on the word aim
"The Spaniards have been reduced to aiming aimless balls into the box."
- football manager Ron Atkinson.
September 10, 2009