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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use target in a sentence
“We want to leverage their supply chain, their ability to scale and reach these markets, and the trusted name that comes with them,” Johnson said, explaining the company’s reasoning for targeting OEMs.
ClearFlame Engine Technologies takes aim at cleaning up diesel engines | Kirsten Korosec | September 17, 2020 | TechCrunchImportant targets for change are ones that drive a big portion of global emissions.
Want to fight climate change effectively? Here’s where to donate your money. | Sigal Samuel | September 17, 2020 | VoxMoreno, 21, is the latest in a series of independent LGBTQ activists and journalists who the Cuban government has targeted.
Cuban authorities threaten to arrest LGBTQ activist, journalist | Michael K. Lavers | September 17, 2020 | Washington BladeOver time, that means inflation on average falls further from the target.
Fed leaves short-term interest rates unchanged at nearly zero | Lee Clifford | September 16, 2020 | FortuneA 55% target will send a clear signal to market players on the solidity of the EU climate trajectory.
Europe doubles down on a pandemic recovery plan that’s green to the core | Bernhard Warner | September 16, 2020 | Fortune
In this war, the targeting is often happening on computer monitors thousands of miles away, capturing images from drones.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War | Nancy A. Youssef | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTTargeting pods can bulge out a bit, and leak out unwanted signals.
Newest U.S. Stealth Fighter ‘10 Years Behind’ Older Jets | Dave Majumdar | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn fact, the recent outpouring of travel superlative lists is already targeting the next best thing.
When they combine it with their pop music, like Taylor Swift, it's basically targeting children and that's wrong.
I Got Kicked Out Of The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show | Nico Hines | December 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis was from the time when the IRS was targeting conservative groups.
It obliterated his momentary joy at the thought that they were no longer targeting down at him.
The Shadow | Arthur StringerIt was clear that they were targeting on the Swift cargo jet.
Tom Swift and The Visitor from Planet X | Victor AppletonFate gives no guarantee of responsibility for the targeting of the Love-God's darts.
Destiny | Charles Neville BuckThis damage goes beyond the loss of power grids and other easily identifiable industrial targeting sets.
Shock and Awe | Harlan K. UllmanThese same techniques also apply to law enforcement agencies targeting international crime and drug cartels using the highway.
Shock and Awe | Harlan K. Ullman
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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