target — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A butt or mark to shoot at, as for practice, or to test the accuracy of a firearm, or the force of a projectile.

   Examples

   Take careful aim at the target.

2. A goal or objective.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers.[…]Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster. Clever financial ploys are what have made billionaires of the industry’s veterans. “Operational improvement” in a portfolio company has often meant little more than promising colossal bonuses to sitting chief executives if they meet ambitious growth targets. That model is still prevalent today.

   They have a target to finish the project by November.

3. An object of criticism or ridicule.

4. A person, place, or thing that is frequently attacked, criticized, or ridiculed.

5. A kind of shield: A kind of small shield or buckler, used as a defensive weapon in war.

   Examples

   These four came all afront, and mainly thrust at me. I made me no more ado but took all their seven points in my target, thus.

6. A kind of shield: A shield resembling the Roman scutum, larger than the modern buckler.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

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   The Target (x) or Buckler (y) was carried by the heavy armed foot, it anſwered to the ſcutum of the Romans; its form was ſometimes that of a rectangular parallelogram, but more commonly had its bottom rounded off; it was generally convex, being curved in its breadth.

7. A kind of shield: A bearing representing a buckler.

   Examples

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   The fourth field is also party per pale, and for the dutchy of Genevois, contains chequered Or and azure: The sinister for the dutchy of Montserat, a target, gules. The point Or is a black eagle of the county of Maurienne.

8. The pattern or arrangement of a series of hits made by a marksman on a butt or mark.

   Examples

   He made a good target.

9. The sliding crosspiece, or vane, on a leveling staff.

10. A conspicuous disk attached to a switch lever to show its position, or for use as a signal.

11. the number of runs that the side batting last needs to score in the final innings in order to win

12. The tenor of a metaphor.

13. The codomain of a function; the object at which a morphism points.

    Examples

    Coordinate term: source

14. The translated version of a document, or the language into which translation occurs.

    Examples

    Do you charge by source or target?

15. A person (or group of people) that a person or organization is trying to employ or to have as a customer, audience etc.

    Examples

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    Gary Cahill, a target for Arsenal and Tottenham before the transfer window closed, put England ahead early on and Rooney was on target twice before the interval as the early hostility of the Bulgarian supporters was swiftly subdued.

16. A thin cut; a slice; specifically, of lamb, a piece consisting of the neck and breast joints.

    Usage

    • UK usage
    • Dated

17. A tassel or pendant.

    Usage

    • Scotland
    • Obsolete

    Synonyms

    targe

18. A shred; a tatter.

    Usage

    • Scotland
    • Obsolete

19. A system or platform for which software is developed.

Verb

1. To aim something, especially a weapon, at (a target).

   Usage

   • Transitive

2. To aim for as an audience or demographic.

   Usage

   • Figurative
   • Transitive

   Examples

   The advertising campaign targeted older women.

3. To produce code suitable for.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   This cross-platform compiler can target any of several processors.

Noun

1. a reference point to shoot at

   Synonyms

   mark

   Broader terms

   reference pointpoint of referencereference

   Examples

   his arrow hit the mark

2. a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence

   Synonyms

   preyquarryfair game

   Broader terms

   victim

   Examples

   he fell prey to muggers

   everyone was fair game

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   the target of a manhunt

3. the location of the target that is to be hit

   Synonyms

   target area

   Broader terms

   topographic pointplacespot

4. sports equipment consisting of an object set up for a marksman or archer to aim at

   Synonyms

   butt

   Broader terms

   sports equipment

5. the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable)

   Synonyms

   aimobjectobjective

   Broader terms

   goalend

   Examples

   the sole object of her trip was to see her children

Verb

1. intend (something) to move towards a certain goal

   Synonyms

   aimplacedirectpoint

   Broader terms

   aimtaketraintake aimdirect

   Examples

   He aimed his fists towards his opponent's face

   criticism directed at her superior

   More examples (1)

   direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself