target

[ tahr-git ]

noun

1. an object, usually marked with concentric circles, to be aimed at in shooting practice or contests.
2. any object used for this purpose.
3. anything fired at.
4. a goal to be reached.

   Synonyms: purpose, end, aim

5. an object of abuse, scorn, derision, etc.; butt.
6. Fencing. the portion of a fencer's body where a touch can be scored.
7. a disk-shaped signal, as at a railroad switch, indicating the position of a switch.
8. Surveying.
   1. the sliding sight on a leveling rod.
   2. any marker on which sights are taken.
9. a small shield, usually round, carried by a foot soldier; buckler.

adjective

1. that is or may be a target or goal:

   The target group consisted of college graduates who earned more than $50,000 a year.

verb (used with object)

1. to use, set up, or designate as a target or goal.
2. to direct toward a target:

   The new warheads can be targeted with great precision.

3. to make a target of (an object, person, city, etc.) for attack or bombardment.

verb phrase

1. to establish or use as a target or goal:

   The club is targeting on September for the move to larger quarters.

target

/ ˈtɑːɡɪt /

noun

1. 1. an object or area at which an archer or marksman aims, usually a round flat surface marked with concentric rings
   2. ( as modifier )

      target practice

2. 1. any point or area aimed at; the object of an attack or a takeover bid
   2. ( as modifier )

      target company

      target area

3. a fixed goal or objective

   the target for the appeal is £10 000

4. 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

5. a joint of lamb consisting of the breast and neck
6. surveying a marker on which sights are taken, such as the sliding marker on a levelling staff
7. (formerly) a small round shield
8. physics electronics
   1. a substance, object, or system subjected to bombardment by electrons or other particles, or to irradiation
   2. an electrode in a television camera tube whose surface, on which image information is stored, is scanned by the electron beam
9. electronics an object to be detected by the reflection of a radar or sonar signal, etc
10. on target
    on target on the correct course to meet a target or objective

verb

1. to make a target of
2. to direct or aim

   to target benefits at those most in need

Derived Forms

• ˈtargetless, adjective

Other Words From

• target·a·ble adjective
• target·less adjective
• un·target·a·ble adjective
• un·target·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of target¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun, from Middle French targuete, variant of targete “small shield” targe, -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of target¹

C14: from Old French targette a little shield, from Old French targe

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on target,
   1. properly aimed or on the right course toward a target.
   2. accurate, correct, or valid:

      Their description of the event was on target.

   3. filling or meeting a requirement or expectations:

      The amount of supplies we took was right on target.

More idioms and phrases containing target

see on target ; sitting duck (target) .

Example Sentences

The alternative might not target the same skills, but at least it gets them moving.

From Washington Post

Investigators think Onyeuka was targeted, but police declined to say why they think the shooting was not random.

From Washington Post

When 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.

From Search Engine Watch

The bill would make platforms like Facebook and Twitter liable when paid content posted on their sites is used to target vulnerable people.

From Digiday

That 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.

From Digiday

There is a particular focus in the magazine on attacking the United States, which al Qaeda calls a top target.

From The Daily Beast

Neither the Republican nor the Democratic party have done anything to consistently target Asian- American voters.

From The Daily Beast

When it comes to Terrence Howard though, I am not your target.

From The Daily Beast

Current and former intelligence officials have said North Korea has long been a priority target for American spies.

From The Daily Beast

Both high fashion and the fast, commercial fashion of Target are supposed to be about aspiration.

From The Daily Beast

Ki Pak had an arrow-walk and target in his garden, and here it was that Yung Pak used to practise almost daily.

From Project Gutenberg

At that instant, when Frank was unconsciously offering a bad target, the moulvie fired.

From Project Gutenberg

Stooping, lest our heads furnish a target, we splashed along in the shallow water till we reached the mouth of the canyon.

From Project Gutenberg

Target practice would not cause Virginia to appear suddenly so nervous.

From Project Gutenberg

And then she and Henri were walking up the stairs and to the entrance, Henri's tall figure the target for many women's eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aim
• goal
• mark
• object
• objective