aim Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
    intention; design; intent; purpose.
    • his intent was to provide a new translation
    • good intentions are not enough
    • it was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs
    • he made no secret of his designs
  2. noun the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable)
    objective; object; target.
    • the sole object of her trip was to see her children
  3. noun the action of directing something at an object
    • he took aim and fired
  4. noun the direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies
    bearing; heading.
  5. verb point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
    direct; train; take; take aim.
    • Please don't aim at your little brother!
    • He trained his gun on the burglar
    • Don't train your camera on the women
    • Take a swipe at one's opponent
  6. verb propose or intend
    propose; purpose; purport.
    • I aim to arrive at noon
  7. verb move into a desired direction of discourse
    drive; get.
    • What are you driving at?
  8. verb specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public
    calculate; direct.
  9. verb intend (something) to move towards a certain goal
    point; place; target; direct.
    • He aimed his fists towards his opponent's face
    • criticism directed at her superior
    • direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself
  10. verb direct (a remark) toward an intended goal
    • She wanted to aim a pun
  11. verb have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal
    aspire; draw a bead on; shoot for.

WordNet

Aim intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. amen, aimen, eimen, to guess at, to estimate, to aim, OF. esmer, asmer, fr. L. aestimare to estimate; or perh. fr. OF. aesmer; (L. ad) + esmer. See Estimate.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Aimed present participle & verbal noun Aiming
Definitions
  1. To point or direct a missile weapon, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it; as, to aim at a fox, or at a target.
  2. To direct the indention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor; -- followed by at, or by an infinitive; as, to aim at distinction; to aim to do well.
    Aim'st thou at princes? Pope.
  3. To guess or conjecture. Obs. Shak.
Aim transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To direct or point, as a weapon, at a particular object; to direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an object; as, to aim a musket or an arrow, the fist or a blow (at something); to aim a satire or a reflection (at some person or vice).
Aim noun
Etymology
Cf. OF. esme estimation, fr. esmer. See Aim, v. i.
Definitions
  1. The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.
    Each at the head leveled his deadly aim. Milton.
  2. The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.
    To be the aim of every dangerous shot. Shak.
  3. Intention; purpose; design; scheme.
    How oft ambitious aims are crossed! Pope.
  4. Conjecture; guess. Obs.
    What you would work me to, I have some aim. Shak.
    Syn. -- End; object; scope; drift; design; purpose; intention; scheme; tendency; aspiration.

Webster 1913