Main Entry: ¹shoot

Pronunciation: \ˈshüt\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): shot \ˈshät\; shoot·ing

Etymology: Middle English sheten, shoten, shuten, from Old English scēotan; akin to Old Norse skjōta to shoot

Date: before 12th century

transitive verb 1 a (1) : to eject or impel or cause to be ejected or impelled by a sudden release of tension (as of a bowstring or slingshot or by a flick of a finger) <shoot an arrow> <shoot a spitball> <shoot a marble> (2) : to drive forth or cause to be driven forth by an explosion (as of a powder charge in a firearm or of ignited fuel in a rocket) (3) : to drive forth or cause to be driven forth by a sudden release of gas or air <shoot darts from a blowgun> <a steam catapult shoots planes from a carrier> (4) : to propel (as a ball or puck) toward a goal by striking or pushing with part of the body (as the hand or foot) or with an implement; also : to score by so doing <shoot the winning goal> <shoot a basket> (5) : to throw or cast off or out often with force <shoot dice> <the horse shot his rider out of the saddle> b : to cause (as a gun or bow) to propel a missile c (1) : to utter (as words or sounds) rapidly or suddenly or with force <shoot out a stream of invective> (2) : to emit (as light, flame, or fumes) suddenly and rapidly (3) : to send forth with suddenness or intensity <shot a look of anger at them> d : to discharge, dump, or empty especially by overturning, upending, or directing into a slide
2 : to affect by shooting: as a : to strike with a missile especially from a bow or gun; especially : to wound or kill with a missile discharged from a bow or firearm b : to remove or destroy by use of firearms <shot out the light>; also : wreck, explode
3 a : to push or slide (as the bolt of a door or lock) into or out of a fastening b : to push or thrust forward : stick out <toads shooting out their tongues> c : to put forth in growing d : to place, send, or bring into position abruptly
4 a (1) : to engage in (a sport or game or a portion of a game that involves shooting) : play <shoot pool> <shoot a round of golf> <shoot craps> (2) : to achieve (a particular score) in a game that involves shooting <shoot 80 in golf> b (1) : to place or offer (a bet) on the result of casting dice <shoot $5> (2) : to use up by or as if by betting : exhaust <shot his annual bonus on a shady deal>
5 a : to engage in the hunting and killing of (as game) with firearms especially as a sport <shoot woodcock> b : to hunt over <shoot a tract of woodland>
6 a : to cause to move suddenly or swiftly forward <shot the car onto the highway> b : to send or carry quickly : dispatch <shoot the letter on to me as soon as you receive it>
7 : to variegate as if by sprinkling color in streaks, flecks, or patches
8 : to pass swiftly by, past, or along <shooting rapids>
9 : to plane (as the edge of a board) straight or true
10 a : set off, detonate, ignite <shoot a charge of dynamite> b : to effect by blasting
11 : to determine the altitude of
12 : to take a picture or series of pictures or television images of : photograph, film
13 a : to give an injection to b : to inject (an illicit drug) especially into the bloodstreamintransitive verb 1 a : to go or pass rapidly and precipitately <sparks shooting all over> <his feet shot out from under him> b : to move ahead by force of momentum c : to stream out suddenly : spurt d : to dart in or as if in rays from a source of light e : to dart with a piercing sensation <pain shot up my arm>
2 a : to cause an engine or weapon to discharge a missile b : to use a firearm or bow especially for sport (as in hunting)
3 : to propel a missile <guns that shoot many miles>
4 : protrude, project
5 a : to grow or sprout by or as if by putting forth shoots b : develop, mature c : to spring or rise rapidly or suddenly —often used with up <in a burst of growth he shot up to six feet tall> <prices shot up>
6 a : to propel an object (as a ball) in a particular way b : to drive the ball or puck toward a goal
7 : to cast dice
8 : to slide into or out of a fastening <a bolt that shoots in either direction>
9 : to record something (as on film or videotape) with a camera
10 : to begin to speak —usually used as an imperative <OK, shoot, what do you have to say>

— shoot at or shoot for : to aim at : strive for

— shoot from the hip : to act or speak hastily without consideration of the consequences

— shoot one's bolt : to exhaust one's capabilities and resources

— shoot one's cuffs : to tug one's shirt cuffs below those of one's coat

— shoot oneself in the foot : to act against one's own best interests

— shoot the breeze : to converse idly : gossip

— shoot the shit usually vulgar : to shoot the breeze

— shoot the works 1 : to venture all one's capital on one play
2 : to put forth all one's efforts