- The definition of a shot is an attempt at scoring or accomplishing something.
- An example of shot is a student trying out for a part in a high school play.
- An example of shot is a volleyball player hitting a ball over the net.
- Shot is defined as the act of firing off of a gun or other weapon.
An example of a shot is an attempt to hit a target at a rifle range.
- the act of shooting; discharge of a missile, esp. from a gun
- the distance over which a missile travels
- range; reach; scope
- an attempt to hit with a missile
- any attempt or try
- a guess or conjecture
- a pointed, critical remark
- in various games, the flight or path of a ball, puck, etc. after it is shot toward a goal or other object
- a stroke, as in tennis or golf
- an attempt to score, as in basketball or hockey
- a solid projectile designed for discharge from a firearm or cannon, as distinguished from an explosive shell
- such projectiles collectively
- lead or steel in small pellets, of which a quantity is used for a single charge of a shotgun
- a single pellet of this kind
- the heavy metal ball used in the shot put
- a blast, or the amount of explosive used for a blast, as in mining
- a marksman: a fair shot
- the act of taking a single photograph
- a single photograph
- a single, continuous image as taken on film, videotape, or by a live TV camera
Origin of shotcf. scot an amount due, esp. for drinks or entertainment
- a hypodermic injection, as of vaccine
- ☆ a drink of liquor; specif., jigger
- Informal something to bet on, considered from the standpoint of odds or chances of winning: a horse that is a ten-to-one shot
- Naut. a 90-foot length of chain, esp. for an anchor
Origin of shotMiddle English ; from Old English sceot ; from sceotan (akin to Old Norse skot, German schuss): see shoot
a shot in the arm
call the shotsInformal
- to give orders
- to control what is done or what happens
have a shot ator take a shot at
like a shot
- quickly; rapidly
- variegated, streaked, flecked, etc. with another color or substance
- woven with threads of different colors so as to appear iridescent
- varied with something different: a novel shot through with pathos
- ☆ Informal ruined or worn out
- The firing or discharge of a weapon, such as a gun.
- The distance over which something is shot; the range.
- a. An attempt to hit a target with a projectile: His shot at the bear missed by inches.b. An attempt to reach a target with a rocket: a moon shot.
- Sports & Games a. An attempt to score into a goal, as in soccer or hockey.b. The flight or path of a projectile in a game.c. A sharply hit or driven ball or puck.d. A stroke in a game, as in golf or billiards: took three shots to get out of the sand trap.
- A pointed or critical remark.
- Informal a. An attempt; a try: took a shot at losing weight.b. An opportunity: gave him a fair shot at the part in the play.c. A chance at odds; something to bet on: The horse was a four-to-one shot.
- a. A solid projectile designed to be discharged from a firearm or cannon.b. pl. shot shot Such projectiles, especially when fired in clusters, considered as a group.c. pl. shot shot Tiny lead or steel pellets, especially ones used in a shotgun cartridge.d. One of these pellets.
- Sports The heavy metal ball that is put for distance in the shot put.
- One who shoots in a particular way: a good shot with the rifle and the bow.
- a. A charge of explosives used in blasting mine shafts.b. A detonation of an explosive charge.
- a. A photograph taken of a particular subject: got a good shot of that last model.b. A single continuous recording made with a movie camera.
- a. A hypodermic injection.b. A small amount given or applied at one time: a shot of oxygen.
- A drink, especially a jigger of liquor.
- An amount to be paid, as for drinks; a bill.
- Nautical A length of chain equal to 15 fathoms (90 feet) in the United States and 12.5 fathoms (75 feet) in Great Britain.
transitive verbshot·ted, shot·ting, shots
Origin of shotMiddle English, from Old English sceot, scot; see skeud- in Indo-European roots.
- a. Of changeable or variegated color; iridescent.b. Streaked or flecked with or as if with yarn of a different color: a blue suit shot with purple; a forest glade that was shot with sunlight.c. Interspersed or permeated with a distinctive quality: Her apology was shot with irony.
- Informal a. Worn-out; ruined.b. Exhausted; thoroughly tired.
(comparative more shot, superlative most shot)
- The result of launching a projectile or bullet.
- The shot was wide off the mark.
- (sports) The act of launching a ball or similar object toward a goal.
- They took the lead on a last-minute shot.
- (athletics) The heavy iron ball used for the shot put.
- The shot flew twenty metres, and nearly landed on the judge's foot.
- (uncountable) Small metal balls used as ammunition.
- (uncountable, military) Metal balls (similar) used as ammunition; not necessarily small.
- (referring to one's skill at firing a gun) Someone who shoots (a gun) regularly
- I brought him hunting as he's a good shot.
- He'd make a bad soldier as he's a lousy shot.
- An opportunity or attempt.
- I'd like just one more shot at winning this game.
- A remark or comment, especially one which is critical or insulting.
- (slang, sports, US) A punch or other physical blow.
- A measure of alcohol, usually spirits, as taken either from a shot-glass or directly from the bottle, equivalent to about 44 milliliters; 1.5 ounces. ("pony shot"= 30 milliliters; 1 fluid ounce)
- I'd like a shot of whisky in my coffee.
- A single serving of espresso.
- (photography, film) A single unbroken sequence of photographic film exposures, or the digital equivalent; an unedited sequence of frames.
- We got a good shot of the hummingbirds mating.
- A vaccination or injection.
- I went to the doctor to get a shot for malaria.
- (US, Canada, baseball, informal) A home run that scores one, two, or three runs (a four run home run is usually referred to as a grand slam).
- His solo shot in the seventh inning ended up winning the game.
- Simple past tense and past participle of shoot.
(third-person singular simple present shots, present participle shotting, simple past and past participle shotted)
- To load (a gun) with shot.
Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Websterâ€™s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
From Old English scÄ“ot, from Germanic *skot-. Cognate with German SchoÃŸ. Compare scot.
See scot (â€œa shareâ€).
- (colloquial, South Africa) Thank you.
Variant of shoot
transitive verbshot, shooting
- to move swiftly over, by, across, etc.: to shoot the rapids in a canoe
- to make move with great speed or sudden force: to shoot an elevator upward
- to pour, empty out, or dump, as down a chute
- to throw or hurl out or forth: volcanoes shooting molten rock into the air
- to cast (an anchor, fish net, etc.)
- ☆ to throw away or spoil (an opportunity, chance, etc.)
- Informal to use up or waste (time, money, etc.)
- to slide (a door bolt) into or out of its fastening
- to variegate, streak, fleck, etc. (with another color or substance): a blue sky shot with white clouds
- to vary (with something different): a story shot with humor
- to thrust out suddenly: snakes shooting out their tongues
- to put forth (a branch, leaves, etc.)
- to send forth (a missile or projectile); discharge or fire (a bullet, arrow, etc.)
- to discharge or emit (rays) with force
- to send forth (a question, reply, glance, fist, etc.) swiftly, suddenly, or with force or feeling
- to discharge or fire (a gun, bow, charge of explosive, etc.)
- to hit, wound, kill, or destroy with a bullet, arrow, etc.
- to make by firing a bullet: to shoot a hole in a door
- to hunt game in or on (a tract of land)
- to take the altitude of (a star) with a transit, sextant, etc.
- to take a picture of with a camera; photograph; film
- to photograph
- to inject (a narcotic drug, etc.) intravenously
- to plane (the edge of a board) straight
- ☆ Slang to send, hand, or give in a swift or hasty way
- Games, Sports
- to hit, kick, throw, drive, or propel (a ball, marble, etc.) toward the objective
- ☆ to roll (dice)
- to make or score (a goal, points, total strokes, etc.)
- to play (golf, pool, craps, etc.)
- to make (a specified bet), as in craps
Origin of shootMiddle English shoten ; from Old English sceotan, akin to Old Norse skjōta, German schiessen ; from Indo-European base an unverified form (s)keud-, to throw, shoot from source shut, Old Church Slavonic is-kydati, to throw out
- to move swiftly; rush; dart: a cat shot out of the room
- to spurt or gush: water shot from the hose
- to be felt suddenly and keenly: pain shot through his arm
- to grow or sprout, esp. rapidly
- to jut out; project
- to send forth a missile or projectile; discharge bullets, arrows, etc.; go off; fire
- to use guns, bows and arrows, etc., as in hunting
- to have skill in using a gun, etc.
- to photograph a scene or subject
- to start the cameras working in photographing a scene or film ()
- to propel a ball, etc. toward the objective
- to roll dice
- the act of shooting
- a shooting trip, party, or contest: a turkey shoot
- a round of shots in a shooting contest
- the action of growing or sprouting
- a new growth; sprout or twig
- action or motion like that of something shot, as of water from a hose
- the launching of a rocket, guided missile, etc.
- ☆ a sloping trough or channel; chute
- a body of ore in a vein, usually elongated and vertical or steeply inclined
- a twinge or spasm of pain
- a period of photographing or filming, esp. away from the studio: a fashion shoot, a three-month shoot in Rome
Origin of shooteuphemism for shit used to express anger, disgust, disappointment, etc.
- used to tell a person to begin talking: OK, now I'm ready—shoot!
shoot ator shoot for
- to bring down by hitting with a shot or shots
- Informal to destroy, reject, etc., esp. forcefully
shoot from the hip
shoot oneself in the foot☆
shoot off one's mouthor shoot off at the mouth☆ Slang
- to speak without caution or discretion; blab
- to boast; brag
- to grow or rise rapidly
- to hit with several or many shots
- ☆ Informal to spread terror and destruction throughout by lawless and wanton shooting
- ☆ Slang to inject a narcotic drug, esp. heroin, intravenously