target

[ tahr-git ]

/ ˈtɑr gɪt /

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR target ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

adjective

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)

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.

Verb Phrases

target (in) on, to establish or use as a target or goal: The club is targeting on September for the move to larger quarters.

Nearby words

Idioms

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

1350–1400; Middle English (noun) < Middle French targuete, variant of targete small shield. See targe, -et

SYNONYMS FOR target

4. aim, end, purpose.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR target ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formstar·get·a·ble, adjectivetar·get·less, adjectiveun·tar·get·a·ble, adjectiveun·tar·get·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for targeted

A drawing of three skulls along with a message in English appeared on computer screens at the targeted firms.
Inside the ‘Surprisingly Great’ North Korean Hacker Hotel|Michael Daly|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Sept. 7, 1996, Tupac was targeted and killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas.
Rapper Bobby Shmurda Arrested at New York’s Notorious Quad Studios|M.L. Nestel|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After failing to reach their targeted goal on crowdfunding sites, the café became a media sensation following a piece on Buzzfeed.
Cereal Cafe’s Big Bowl of Hate|David Levesley|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That message for Ebola with the footballers is targeted to West Africa.
Idris Elba on Eric Garner, ‘Mi Mandela,’ and Selling Weed to Dave Chappelle|Marlow Stern|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

There must certainly be male teachers at the same school who could have been targeted.
Abu Dhabi Stabbing: Why Law Enforcement Hates The Niqab & Burqa|Christopher Dickey|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even the big boats take one of two that are buoyed and targeted.
Motor Boat Boys on the Great Lakes|Louis Arundel
The perception that he personally might be targeted appeared to get Gadhafi's attention.
Shock and Awe|Harlan K. Ullman
Military force would be applied in a purer form and targeted primarily against the military capabilities of an opponent.
Shock and Awe|Harlan K. Ullman
Jordan gave no hint of how Buck's shaft might have targeted his intentions, but climbed into the car and started it.
Rimrock Trail|J. Allan Dunn
He saw the man he had targeted drop his bow and fall to the ground.
The Saracen: The Holy War|Robert Shea

British Dictionary definitions for targeted

target

/ (ˈtɑːɡɪt) /

noun

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 objectivethe 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 feelingsa 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

verb -gets, -geting or -geted (tr)

to make a target of

to direct or aimto target benefits at those most in need

Derived Formstargetless, adjective

Word Origin for target

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

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

Word Origin and History for targeted

target

c.1400, "shield," diminutive of late Old English targe, from Old French targe "light shield," from Frankish *targa "shield" (cf. Old High German zarga "edging, border," German zarge, Old English targe, Old Norse targa "shield"), from Proto-Germanic *targo "border, edge." Meaning "object to be aimed at in shooting" first recorded 1757, originally in archery. Target audience is by 1951, early reference is to Cold War psychological warfare.

target

"to use as a target," 1837, from target (n.). Related: Targeted; targeting.

Medicine definitions for targeted

target

[ tär′gĭt ]

n.

One to be influenced or changed by an action or event.

A desired goal.

A usually metal part in an x-ray tube on which a beam of electrons is focused and from which x-rays are emitted.

A target organ.

Idioms and Phrases with targeted

target

see on target; sitting duck (target).

target

noun

adjective

verb (used with object)

Verb Phrases

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of target

Examples from the Web for targeted

target

noun

verb -gets, -geting or -geted (tr)

Word Origin for target

target

target

target

n.

target