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 verb1 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 slide2: 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 abruptly4 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 patches8: to pass swiftly by, past, or along <shooting rapids>9: to plane (as the edge of a board) straight or true10 a: set off, detonate, ignite <shoot a charge of dynamite> b: to effect by blasting11: to determine the altitude of12: to take a picture or series of pictures or television images of : photograph, film13 a: to give an injection to b: to inject (an illicit drug) especially into the bloodstreamintransitive verb1 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, project5 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 goal7: to cast dice8: 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 camera10: 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 play2: to put forth all one's efforts