target

[tahr-git]

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.

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

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

Synonyms for target

4. aim, end, purpose.

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

British Dictionary definitions for untargetable

target

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 untargetable

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.