target

[tahr-git] /ˈtɑr gɪt/
noun
1.
an object, usually marked with concentric circles, to be aimed at in shooting practice or contests.
2.
any object used for this purpose.
3.
anything fired at.
4.
a goal to be reached.
5.
an object of abuse, scorn, derision, etc.; butt.
6.
Fencing. the portion of a fencer's body where a touch can be scored.
7.
a disk-shaped signal, as at a railroad switch, indicating the position of a switch.
8.
Surveying.
  1. the sliding sight on a leveling rod.
  2. any marker on which sights are taken.
9.
a small shield, usually round, carried by a foot soldier; buckler.
adjective
10.
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)
11.
to use, set up, or designate as a target or goal.
12.
to direct toward a target:
The new warheads can be targeted with great precision.
13.
to make a target of (an object, person, city, etc.) for attack or bombardment.
Verb phrases
14.
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
15.
on target,
  1. properly aimed or on the right course toward a target.
  2. accurate, correct, or valid:
    Their description of the event was on target.
  3. filling or meeting a requirement or expectations:
    The amount of supplies we took was right on target.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English (noun) < Middle French targuete, variant of targete small shield. See targe, -et
Related forms
targetable, adjective
targetless, adjective
untargetable, adjective
untargeted, adjective
Synonyms
4. aim, end, purpose.
Examples from the web for target
  • When you go to conferences as an acquisitions editor you are a target.
  • If you target a destination, you don't run into that problem.
  • Nor did she quote a single student or a single resident of the target neighborhood she visited.
  • The extensive engine collection ranges from early aircraft to rockets and target drone.
  • Imagine a day when a submarine could blast a target to smithereens using nothing more than acoustic energy.
  • Ask them how they get info on the target population.
  • Patchwork receptors target immune cells against cancer.
  • Every city is a potential battleground, every citizen a target.
  • First, the military can't intentionally target civilians.
  • His club has replaced the feather with a target painted on the lane.
British Dictionary definitions for target

target

/ˈtɑːɡɪt/
noun
1.
  1. an object or area at which an archer or marksman aims, usually a round flat surface marked with concentric rings
  2. (as modifier): target practice
2.
  1. any point or area aimed at; the object of an attack or a takeover bid
  2. (as modifier): target area, target company
3.
a fixed goal or objective: the target for the appeal is £10 000
4.
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
5.
a joint of lamb consisting of the breast and neck
6.
(surveying) a marker on which sights are taken, such as the sliding marker on a levelling staff
7.
(formerly) a small round shield
8.
(physics, electronics)
  1. a substance, object, or system subjected to bombardment by electrons or other particles, or to irradiation
  2. an electrode in a television camera tube whose surface, on which image information is stored, is scanned by the electron beam
9.
(electronics) an object to be detected by the reflection of a radar or sonar signal, etc
10.
on target, on the correct course to meet a target or objective
verb (transitive) -gets, -geting, -geted
11.
to make a target of
12.
to direct or aim: to target benefits at those most in need
Derived Forms
targetless, adjective
Word Origin
C14: from Old French targette a little shield, from Old French targe
Word Origin and History for target
n.

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.

v.

"to use as a target," 1837, from target (n.). Related: Targeted; targeting.

target in Medicine

target tar·get (tär'gĭt)
n.

  1. One to be influenced or changed by an action or event.

  2. A desired goal.

  3. A usually metal part in an x-ray tube on which a beam of electrons is focused and from which x-rays are emitted.

  4. A target organ.

target in Technology


SCSI target

target in the Bible

(1 Sam. 17:6, A.V., after the LXX. and Vulg.), a kind of small shield. The margin has "gorget," a piece of armour for the throat. The Revised Version more correctly renders the Hebrew word (kidon) by "javelin." The same Hebrew word is used in Josh. 8:18 (A.V., "spear;" R.V., "javelin"); Job 39:23 (A.V., "shield;" R.V., "javelin"); 41:29 (A.V., "spear;" R.V., "javelin").

Idioms and Phrases with target

target

see: