Target

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: tar=get

CIDE DICTIONARY

Target, n. [OF. targette, dim. of OF. & F. targe, of Teutonic origin; cf. AS. targe, OD. targie, G. zarge a frame, case, border, OHG. zarga, Icel. targa shield.].

•  A kind of small shield or buckler, used as a defensive weapon in war.  [1913 Webster]
•  A butt or mark to shoot at, as for practice, or to test the accuracy of a firearm, or the force of a projectile.  [1913 Webster]
•  The sliding crosspiece, or vane, on a leveling staff.  [1913 Webster]
•  A conspicuous disk attached to a switch lever to show its position, or for use as a signal.  [1913 Webster]
•  A thin cut; a slice; specif., of lamb, a piece consisting of the neck and breast joints.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  A tassel or pendent; also, a shred; tatter.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  A goal for an activity; as, the target of this year's fundraising drive is 2 million dollars.  [PJC]
•  A metallic object toward which a beam of electrons is aimed in a tube designed to generate X-rays; when the electrons strike the target, the impact causes emission of X-rays.  [PJC]
•  Any object toward which a beam of photons, a laser beam, an electron beam, or a beam of atomic or subatomic particles is aimed.  [PJC]
•  A person who is the subject of criticism or ridicule.  [PJC]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Target, n. & v.
--n.
1 a mark or point fired or aimed at, esp. a round or rectangular object marked with concentric circles.
2 a person or thing aimed at, or exposed to gunfire etc. (they were an easy target).
3 (also attrib.) an objective or result aimed at (our export targets; target date).
4 a person or thing against whom criticism, abuse, etc., is or may be directed.
5 archaic a shield or buckler, esp. a small round one.
--v.tr. (targeted, targeting)
1 identify or single out (a person or thing) as an object of attention or attack.
2 aim or direct (missiles targeted on major cities; should target our efforts where needed).

Derivative

targetable adj.

Etymology

ME, dimin. of ME and OF targe shield

THESAURUS

Target

aim, alpha decay, atom-chipping, atom-smashing, atomic disintegration, atomic reaction, atomization, beta decay, bombardment, breeding, bullet, butt, by-end, by-purpose, byword, byword of reproach, chain reaction, cleavage, derision, destination, disintegration series, dissociation, dupe, duty, end, end in view, exchange reaction, fair game, fall guy, figure of fun, final cause, fission, fission reaction, fool, function, game, gamma decay, gazingstock, goal, goat, ionization, jest, jestingstock, joke, laughingstock, mark, mockery, monkey, neutron reaction, nonreversible reaction, nuclear fission, nucleization, object, object in mind, objective, photodisintegration, prey, proton gun, proton reaction, purpose, pursuit, quarry, quintain, reason for being, reversible reaction, scapegoat, sitting duck, splitting the atom, stimulation, stock, teleology, thermonuclear reaction, toy, ultimate aim, use, victim, whipping boy

ROGET THESAURUS

Target

Intention

N intent, intention, intentionality, purpose, quo animo, project, undertaking, predetermination, design, ambition, contemplation, mind, animus, view, purview, proposal, study, look out, final cause, raison d'etre, cui bono, object, aim, end, the be all and the end all, drift, tendency, destination, mark, point, butt, goal, target, bull's-eye, quintain, prey, quarry, game, decision, determination, resolve, fixed set purpose, settled purpose, ultimatum, resolution, wish, arriere pensee, motive, teleology, intended, intentional, advised, express, determinate, prepense, bound for, intending, minded, bent upon, at stake, on the anvil, on the tapis, in view, in prospect, in the breast of, in petto, teleological, intentionally, advisedly, wittingly, knowingly, designedly, purposely, on purpose, by design, studiously, pointedly, with intent, deliberately, with one's eyes open, in cold blood, for, with a view, with an eye to, in order to, in order that, to the end that, with the intent that, for the purpose of, with the view of, in contemplation of, on account of, in pursuance of, pursuant to, quo animo, to all intents and purposes, The road to hell is paved with good intentions, sublimi feriam sidera vertice.