bull's-eye

[ boolz-ahy ]

/ ˈbʊlzˌaɪ /

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See synonyms for bull's-eye on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural bull's-eyes.

the circular spot, usually black or outlined in black, at the center of a target marked with concentric circles and used in target practice.

a shot that hits this.

the center or central area of a military target, as of a town or factory, in a bombing raid.

a missile that strikes the central area of a target.

the coordinates or instance of aiming and firing a missile that results in its hitting the center of a target.

Informal.

any statement or act that is precisely to the point or achieves a desired result directly.
something that is decisive or crucial; crux.

a small circular opening or window.

a thick disk or lenslike piece of glass inserted in a roof, ship's deck, etc., to admit light.

Optics. a lens of short focal length.

a lantern equipped with a lens of this sort.

Nautical. an oval or circular wooden block having a groove around it and a hole in the center, through which to reeve a rope.

Meteorology. (formerly) the eye of a storm.

a large, round piece of peppermint-flavored hard candy.

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Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of bull's-eye

First recorded in 1680–90

OTHER WORDS FROM bull's-eye

bull's-eyed, adjective

Words nearby bull's-eye

bull-roarer, bull rope, Bull Run, Bull Run, Battle of, bull session, bull's-eye, bull's-eye mirror, bull's-eye rot, bull's-eye window, bull shark, bullshit

British Dictionary definitions for bull's-eye

bull's-eye

noun

the small central disc of a target, usually the highest valued area

a shot hitting this

informal something that exactly achieves its aim

a small circular or oval window or opening

a thick disc of glass set into a ship's deck, etc, to admit light

the glass boss at the centre of a sheet of blown glass

a small thick plano-convex lens used as a condenser
a lamp or lantern containing such a lens

a peppermint-flavoured, usually striped, boiled sweet

nautical a circular or oval wooden block with a groove around it for the strop of a shroud and a hole at its centre for a lineCompare deadeye

meteorol the eye or centre of a cyclone

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

bull's-eye

Origin of bull's-eye

OTHER WORDS FROM bull's-eye

Words nearby bull's-eye

Words related to bull's-eye

British Dictionary definitions for bull's-eye