aim

[eym] /eɪm/

verb (used with object)

to position or direct (a firearm, ball, arrow, rocket, etc.) so that, on firing or release, the discharged projectile will hit a target or travel along a certain path.

to intend or direct for a particular effect or purpose:

to aim a satire at snobbery.

verb (used without object)

to point or direct a gun, punch, etc., toward:

He aimed at the target but missed it.

to strive; try (usually followed by to or at):

We aim to please. They aim at saving something every month.

to intend:

She aims to go tomorrow.

to direct efforts, as toward an object:

The satire aimed at modern greed.

Obsolete. to estimate; guess.

noun

the act of aiming or directing anything at or toward a particular point or target.

the direction in which a weapon or missile is pointed; the line of sighting:

within the cannon's aim.

10.

the point intended to be hit; thing or person aimed at:

to miss one's aim.

11.

something intended or desired to be attained by one's efforts; purpose:

whatever his aim in life may be.

12.

Obsolete. conjecture; guess.

Idioms

13.

take aim, to sight a target:

to take aim and fire.

Origin

1275-1325; late Middle English aimen < Anglo-French a(e)smer, eimer, Old French aesmer < Vulgar Latin *adaestimāre, equivalent to Latin ad- ad- + aestimāre (see estimate); replacing Middle English amen < Old French (dial.) amer < Latin aestimāre

Related forms

aimer, noun

aimful, adjective

aimfully, adverb

misaim, verb, noun

unaimed, adjective

unaiming, adjective

underaim, noun

underaim, verb

well-aimed, adjective

Synonyms

1. point. 8. sighting. 10. target, objective. 11. goal; intent, design. Aim, end, object all imply something that is the goal of one's efforts. Aim implies that toward which one makes a direct line, refusing to be diverted from it: a nobleness of aim; one's aim in life. End emphasizes the goal as a cause of efforts: the end for which one strives. Object emphasizes the goal as that toward which all efforts are directed: the object of years of study.

British Dictionary definitions for take aim

aim

/eɪm/

verb

to point (a weapon, missile, etc) or direct (a blow) at a particular person or object; level

(transitive) to direct (satire, criticism, etc) at a person, object, etc

(intransitive; foll by at or an infinitive) to propose or intend: we aim to leave early

(intransitive; often foll by at or for) to direct one's efforts or strive (towards): to aim at better communications, to aim high

noun

the action of directing something at an object

the direction in which something is pointed; line of sighting (esp in the phrase to take aim)

the object at which something is aimed; target

intention; purpose

Word Origin

C14: via Old French aesmer from Latin aestimāre to estimate

AIM

abbreviation

(in Britain) Alternative Investment Market

Word Origin and History for take aim

aim

early 14c., "to estimate, calculate," also "to intend," from Old French aesmer "value, rate; count, estimate," from Latin aestimare "appraise" (see estimation); current meaning apparently developed from "esteem," to "calculate," to "calculate with a view to action" (c.1400), then to "direct a missile, a blow, etc." (1570s). Related: Aimed; aiming.

early 14c., "target;" late 14c., "guess;" from aim (v.). Meaning "action of aiming" is from early 15c. (to take aim, originally make aim); that of "thing intended, purpose" is from 1620s.

Related Abbreviations for take aim

AIM

American Indian Movement

Idioms and Phrases with take aim

take aim

Direct a missile or criticism at something or someone, as in Raising his rifle, Chet took aim at the squirrel but missed it entirely, or In his last speech the President took aim at the opposition leader. [ Late 1500s ]

aim

In addition to the idiom beginning with aim also see: take aim