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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Origin of bull's-eye

First recorded in 1680–90

OTHER WORDS FROM bull's-eye

bull's-eyed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bull's-eye in a sentence

This time a bullseye from a distance made clean, easy, and effective.
America’s Troubled Drone Policy: Let the Debate Finally Begin|John Kael Weston|February 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
My crew were aiming like sharpshooters and both torpedos went to their bullseye.
The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915|Various
"You have scored a bullseye," cried Cairns, when he had read Desmond's report, and had glanced at the sketches.
Grey Town|Gerald Baldwin
One well projected match seemed to hit the particular bullseye he was aiming at.
From Pillar to Post|John Kendrick Bangs

Granny Tunks with commendable forethought had brought out a bullseye lantern, which she must have stolen from some policeman.
The Solitary Farm|Fergus Hume
Dutton, having received five shillings, made no objection to this, provided he got back his bullseye later in the night.
The Solitary Farm|Fergus Hume

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 related to bull's-eye

How to use bull's-eye in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bull's-eye