bull's-eye

[boolz-ahy]

noun

plural

bull's-eyes 

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

2. a shot that hits this.

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

4. a missile that strikes the central area of a target.

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

6. Informal.

   1. any statement or act that is precisely to the point or achieves a desired result directly.

   2. something that is decisive or crucial; crux.

7. a small circular opening or window.

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

9. Optics.,  a lens of short focal length.

10. a lantern equipped with a lens of this sort.

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

12. Meteorology.,  (formerly) the eye of a storm.

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

bull's-eye

noun

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

2. a shot hitting this

3. informal,  something that exactly achieves its aim

4. a small circular or oval window or opening

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

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

7. 1. a small thick plano-convex lens used as a condenser

   2. a lamp or lantern containing such a lens

8. a peppermint-flavoured, usually striped, boiled sweet

9. 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 line Compare deadeye

10. meteorol the eye or centre of a cyclone

Other Word Forms

• bull's-eyed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bull's-eye¹

First recorded in 1680–90

Related Words

• center 
• dead center 
• omphalos