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View synonyms for

target

[ tahr-git ]

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.

    Synonyms: , ,

  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

  1. 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)

  1. to use, set up, or designate as a target or goal.
  2. to direct toward a target:

    The new warheads can be targeted with great precision.

  3. to make a target of (an object, person, city, etc.) for attack or bombardment.

verb phrase

  1. to establish or use as a target or goal:

    The club is targeting on September for the move to larger quarters.

target

/ ˈɑːɡɪ /

noun

    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

    1. any point or area aimed at; the object of an attack or a takeover bid
    2. ( as modifier )

      target company

      target area

  1. a fixed goal or objective

    the target for the appeal is £10 000

  2. 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

  3. a joint of lamb consisting of the breast and neck
  4. surveying a marker on which sights are taken, such as the sliding marker on a levelling staff
  5. (formerly) a small round shield
  6. 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
  7. electronics an object to be detected by the reflection of a radar or sonar signal, etc
  8. on target
    on the correct course to meet a target or objective
“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

verb

  1. to make a target of
  2. to direct or aim

    to target benefits at those most in need

“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٲٱ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • ٲg·· adjective
  • ٲg· adjective
  • un·ٲg·· adjective
  • ܲ·ٲg· adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of target1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun, from Middle French targuete, variant of targete “small shield” targe, -et
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Word History and Origins

Origin of target1

C14: from Old French targette a little shield, from Old French targe
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing target

see on target ; sitting duck (target) .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Q: There’s a penalty for not meeting the targets, but no bonuses for meeting them: You meet the goals or else, right?

From

"It's not about the scoreboard it's about our individual targets."

From

He subsequently halved this target and on 10 April talked about making savings of $150bn from "cutting fraud and waste" by the end of the next financial year in 2026.

From

DoorDash is targeting a July hearing on the motion, its attorney said, but the specific date will ultimately be determined by Superior Court Judge Christine Van Aken.

From

Nandy also said she had been "very concerned" about the way the fee had been enforced in the past as it had been found to disproportionately target women.

From

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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