Main Entry:

¹tar·get

Pronunciation:

\ˈtär-gət\

Function:

noun

Usage:

often attributive

Etymology:

Middle English, from Middle French targette, targuete, diminutive of targe light shield, from Old French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse targa shield

Date:

14th century

1: a small round shield2 a: a mark to shoot at b: a target marked by shots fired at it c: something or someone fired at or marked for attack d: a goal to be achieved3 a: an object of ridicule or criticism b: something or someone to be affected by an action or development4 a: the metallic surface (as of platinum or tungsten) upon which the stream of electrons within an X-ray tube is focused and from which the X-rays are emitted b: a body, surface, or material bombarded with nuclear particles or electrons ; especially : fluorescent material on which desired visual effects are produced in electronic devices (as in radar)

— off target

: not valid : inaccurate

— on target

: precisely correct or valid especially in interpreting or addressing a problem or vital issue