Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » shoot

shoot

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

Shoot means to fire a weapon or to move quickly. (verb)

An example of shoot is to kill a deer with a gun while hunting.
When you shoot questions at someone you are asking the questions very quickly.

A shoot is the new growth on a plant or an act of firing something from a gun. (noun)

An example of a shoot is the first growth from a newly-planted bean seed.
Target practice with a rifle is an example of a shoot.

See shoot in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb shot, shooting

1. to move swiftly over, by, across, etc.: to shoot the rapids in a canoe
2. to make move with great speed or sudden force: to shoot an elevator upward
to pour, empty out, or dump, as down a chute
1. to throw or hurl out or forth: volcanoes shooting molten rock into the air
2. to cast (an anchor, fish net, etc.)
3. ☆ to throw away or spoil (an opportunity, chance, etc.)
4. Informal to use up or waste (time, money, etc.)
to slide (a door bolt) into or out of its fastening
1. to variegate, streak, fleck, etc. (with another color or substance): a blue sky shot with white clouds
2. to vary (with something different): a story shot with humor
1. to thrust out suddenly: snakes shooting out their tongues
2. to put forth (a branch, leaves, etc.)
1. to send forth (a missile or projectile); discharge or fire (a bullet, arrow, etc.)
2. to discharge or emit (rays) with force
to send forth (a question, reply, glance, fist, etc.) swiftly, suddenly, or with force or feeling
1. to discharge or fire (a gun, bow, charge of explosive, etc.)
2. to hit, wound, kill, or destroy with a bullet, arrow, etc.
3. 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.
1. to take a picture of with a camera; photograph; film
2. 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
1. to hit, kick, throw, drive, or propel (a ball, marble, etc.) toward the objective
2. ☆ to roll (dice)
3. to make or score (a goal, points, total strokes, etc.)
4. to play (golf, pool, craps, etc.)
5. to make (a specified bet), as in craps

intransitive verb

1. to move swiftly; rush; dart: a cat shot out of the room
2. 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
1. to use guns, bows and arrows, etc., as in hunting
2. to have skill in using a gun, etc.
☆
1. to photograph a scene or subject
2. to start the cameras working in photographing a scene or film ()
Sports
1. to propel a ball, etc. toward the objective
2. to roll dice

noun

1. the act of shooting
2. a shooting trip, party, or contest: a turkey shoot
3. 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

interjection

☆ used to express anger, disgust, disappointment, etc.
used to tell a person to begin talking: OK, now I'm ready—shoot!

See shoot in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(sho͞ot)

verb shot shot (shŏt), shoot·ing, shoots

verb, transitive

a. To hit, wound, or kill with a missile fired from a weapon.
b. To remove or destroy by firing or projecting a missile: shot out the window.
c. To make (a hole, for example) by firing a weapon.
To fire or let fly (a missile) from a weapon.
a. To discharge (a weapon).
b. To detonate or cause to explode: shot off a firecracker.
To inject (a drug, for example) with a hypodermic syringe.
To throw out or release (a fishing line, for example).
a. To send forth suddenly, intensely, or swiftly: The burning building shot sparks onto the adjacent roof. He shot an angry look at me.
b. To emit (a ray or rays of light or another form of energy).
c. To utter (sounds or words) forcefully, rapidly, or suddenly: She shot a retort to the insult.
d. Slang To give, send, or hand quickly: Shoot me that stapler.
Informal To spend, use up, or waste: They shot their savings on a new boat.
To pass over or through swiftly: shooting the rapids.
To cover (country) in hunting for game.
To record on film: shot the scene in one take.
To cause to project or protrude; extend: shot out her arm to prevent the bottle from falling.
To begin to grow or produce; put forth.
To pour, empty out, or discharge down or as if down a chute: shot gravel into the hole.
Sports & Games
a. To throw or propel (a ball, marble, or other projectile in a game) in a specific direction or toward the objective.
b. To accomplish (the objective) of a game involving a projectile; score (a point, basket, or goal).
c. To play (a game involving projectiles, such as golf or pool).
d. To attain (a given score) in golf.
e. To play (a game involving dice, especially craps).
f. To throw (the dice or a given score) in craps.
To slide (the bolt of a lock) into or out of its fastening.
To plane (the edge of a board) straight.
To variegate (colored cloth) by interweaving weft threads of a different color.
To measure the altitude of with a sextant or other instrument: shot the star.

verb, intransitive

To discharge a missile from a weapon.
To discharge or fire; go off.
a. To gush or spurt: Water shot out of the geyser.
b. To appear suddenly: The sun shot through a break in the clouds.
To move swiftly; dart.
To be felt moving or as if moving in the body: Pain shot through my lower leg.
To protrude; project: The headland shoots far out into the sea.
To engage in hunting or the firing of weapons, especially for sport: is shooting in Scotland during the fall.
To put forth new growth; germinate.
a. To take pictures.
b. To film a scene in a movie.
Sports & Games To propel a ball or other object toward the goal or in a specific direction or manner.
Games To throw dice.
Slang To begin talking. Often used in the imperative: I know you have something to tell me, so shoot!
To slide into or out of a fastening. Used of the bolt of a lock.

noun

The motion or movement of something that is propelled, driven, or discharged.
a. The young growth arising from a germinating seed; a sprout.
b. A bud, young leaf, or other new growth on a plant.
A narrow, swift, or turbulent section of a stream.
a. The act of discharging a weapon or letting fly a missile.
b. Informal The launching of a rocket or similar missile.
a. An organized shooting activity, such as a skeet tournament or hunt.
b. A round of shots in a contest with firearms.
A session in which something is photographed, filmed, or videotaped.
The distance a shot travels; the range.
Nautical The interval between strokes in rowing.
A sharp twinge or spasm of pain.
An inclined channel for moving something; a chute.
A body of ore in a vein.

interjection

Used to express surprise, mild annoyance, or disappointment.

Phrasal Verbs: shoot down To bring down (an aircraft, for example) by hitting and damaging with gunfire or a missile. Informal To ruin the aspirations of; disappoint. Informal

a. To put an end to; defeat: shot down the proposal.

b. To expose as false; discredit: shot down his theory.

shoot for/at Informal To strive or aim for; have as a goal. shoot up Informal To grow or get taller rapidly. To increase dramatically in amount. To riddle with bullets. To damage or terrorize (a town, for example) by intense or random gunfire. Slang To inject a drug with a hypodermic syringe.

Related Forms: