target
an object, usually marked with concentric circles, to be aimed at in shooting practice or contests.
any object used for this purpose.
anything fired at.
a goal to be reached.
an object of abuse, scorn, derision, etc.; butt.
Fencing. the portion of a fencer's body where a touch can be scored.
a disk-shaped signal, as at a railroad switch, indicating the position of a switch.
Surveying.
the sliding sight on a leveling rod.
any marker on which sights are taken.
a small shield, usually round, carried by a foot soldier; buckler.
that is or may be a target or goal: The target group consisted of college graduates who earned more than $50,000 a year.
to use, set up, or designate as a target or goal.
to direct toward a target: The new warheads can be targeted with great precision.
to make a target of (an object, person, city, etc.) for attack or bombardment.
target (in) on, to establish or use as a target or goal: The club is targeting on September for the move to larger quarters.
Idioms about target
on target,
properly aimed or on the right course toward a target.
accurate, correct, or valid: Their description of the event was on target.
filling or meeting a requirement or expectations: The amount of supplies we took was right on target.
Origin of target
1Other words for target
Other words from target
- tar·get·a·ble, adjective
- tar·get·less, adjective
- un·tar·get·a·ble, adjective
- un·tar·get·ed, adjective
Words Nearby target
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use target in a sentence
The alternative might not target the same skills, but at least it gets them moving.
Kids are shooting hoops with rolled up socks, but pandemic physical education is not canceled | Kelly Field | February 12, 2021 | Washington PostInvestigators think Onyeuka was targeted, but police declined to say why they think the shooting was not random.
Fairfax County police identify victim of fatal shooting in Reston | Justin Jouvenal | February 11, 2021 | Washington PostWhen you use this parameter as your optimization target, Google’s Smart Bidding algorithm aims to achieve conversions at an average cost that is equal to or less than your target CPA.
Smart Bidding: Five ways machine learning improves PPC advertising | Gabrielle Sadeh | February 10, 2021 | Search Engine WatchThe bill would make platforms like Facebook and Twitter liable when paid content posted on their sites is used to target vulnerable people.
Cheat sheet: U.S. lawmakers propose Section 230 reforms to regulate online paid speech | Kate Kaye | February 10, 2021 | DigidayThat information is especially valuable as the impending demise of the third-party cookie has pushed the digital ad industry to prize first-party data, like email addresses, as a means of targeting people with ads.
The New York Times aims to convert newsletter readers into paid subscribers as The Morning newsletter tops 1 billion opens | Sara Guaglione | February 10, 2021 | Digiday
There is a particular focus in the magazine on attacking the United States, which al Qaeda calls a top target.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre | Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTNeither the Republican nor the Democratic party have done anything to consistently target Asian- American voters.
When it comes to Terrence Howard though, I am not your target.
‘Empire’ Review: Hip-Hop Musical Chairs with an Insane Soap Opera Twist | Judnick Mayard | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTCurrent and former intelligence officials have said North Korea has long been a priority target for American spies.
Both high fashion and the fast, commercial fashion of target are supposed to be about aspiration.
One Vogue Cover Doesn’t Solve Fashion’s Big Race Problem | Danielle Belton | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTKi Pak had an arrow-walk and target in his garden, and here it was that Yung Pak used to practise almost daily.
Our Little Korean Cousin | H. Lee M. PikeAt that instant, when Frank was unconsciously offering a bad target, the moulvie fired.
The Red Year | Louis TracyStooping, lest our heads furnish a target, we splashed along in the shallow water till we reached the mouth of the canyon.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclairtarget practice would not cause Virginia to appear suddenly so nervous.
The Adventure Girls at K Bar O | Clair BlankAnd then she and Henri were walking up the stairs and to the entrance, Henri's tall figure the target for many women's eyes.
The Amazing Interlude | Mary Roberts Rinehart
British Dictionary definitions for target
/ (ˈtɑːɡɪt) /
an object or area at which an archer or marksman aims, usually a round flat surface marked with concentric rings
(as modifier): target practice
any point or area aimed at; the object of an attack or a takeover bid
(as modifier): target area; target company
a fixed goal or objective: the target for the appeal is £10 000
a person or thing at which an action or remark is directed or the object of a person's feelings: a target for the teacher's sarcasm
a joint of lamb consisting of the breast and neck
surveying a marker on which sights are taken, such as the sliding marker on a levelling staff
(formerly) a small round shield
physics electronics
a substance, object, or system subjected to bombardment by electrons or other particles, or to irradiation
an electrode in a television camera tube whose surface, on which image information is stored, is scanned by the electron beam
electronics an object to be detected by the reflection of a radar or sonar signal, etc
on target on the correct course to meet a target or objective
to make a target of
to direct or aim: to target benefits at those most in need
Origin of target
1Derived forms of target
- targetless, adjective
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with target
see on target; sitting duck (target).
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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