intent

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

• noun Something that is intended; an aim or purpose. synonym: intention.
• noun Law The state of mind necessary for an act to constitute a crime.
• adjective Firmly fixed; concentrated.
• adjective Having the attention applied; engrossed.
• adjective Having the mind and will focused on a specific purpose.
• idiom (for/to) In every practical sense; practically.

from The Century Dictionary.

• Firmly or steadfastly fixed or directed (upon something); fixed with strained or earnest attention: as, an intent look or gaze; his thoughts are intent upon his duty.
• Having the mind bent or earnestly fixed upon something; sedulously engaged or settled: usually with on or upon: as, a person intent upon business or pleasure.
• Earnestly attentive; strongly devoted: with to.
• To accuse; charge.
• noun That which is intended; purpose; aim; design; intention; meaning.
• noun In law: Personal intention; the state of mind in respect of intelligent volition; the voluntary purposing of an act: often distinguishable from the motive which led to the formation of the intent. See criminal intent, below.
• noun The tendency imputable by law to an act; the constructive purpose of an action, for which the doer may be responsible, although the actual intent was not wrongful: as when a conveyance is said to be intended to defraud creditors, because, although it may have been without actual dishonest intention, it necessarily has that tendency.
• noun Notion; idea; thought; opinion.
• noun Attention; heed.

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

• noun The act of turning the mind toward an object; hence, a design; a purpose; intention; meaning; drift; aim.
• noun in all applications or senses; practically; really; virtually; in essence; essentially.
• adjective Closely directed; strictly attentive; bent; -- said of the mind, thoughts, etc..
• adjective Having the mind closely directed to or bent on an object; sedulous; eager in pursuit of an object; -- formerly with to, but now with on.

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

• noun The purpose of something that is intended.
• noun law The state of someone’s mind at the time of committing an offence.
• adjective Firmly fixed or concentrated on something.
• adjective Engrossed.
• adjective Unwavering from a course of action.

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

• noun the intended meaning of a communication
• noun an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
• adjective giving or marked by complete attention to