Dictionary

aim en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /eɪm/
• (US) audio
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

The verb is from Middle English amen, aimen, eimen (“to guess at, to estimate, to aim”), borrowed from Old French esmer, aesmer, asmer, from Latin ad- plus aestimare (“to estimate”), the compound perhaps being originally formed in Medieval Latin (adaestimare), perhaps in Old French. The noun is from Middle English ame, from Old French aesme, esme.

Meanings

1. The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, or object, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, such as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.
   • to take aim
   • Take time with the aim of your gun.
   • 2012, "The Legend of the Gobblewonker", season 1, episode 2 of Gravity Falls, spoken by Grunkle Stan, voiced by Alex Hirsch My ex-wife still misses me, but her aim is getting better!
2. The level of accuracy of a weapon.
   • A rifle has more precise aim than a shotgun.
3. The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.
4. Intention or goal.
   • My number one aim in life is to make money to make my parents, siblings, and kids happy.
   • There is no doubt at all that this is the future of machinery, and just as trees grow while the country gentleman is asleep, so while Humanity will be amusing itself, or enjoying cultivated leisure—which, and not labour, is the aim of man—or making beautiful things, or reading beautiful things, or simply contemplating the world with admiration and delight, machinery will be doing all the necessary and unpleasant work. 1891 February, Oscar Wilde, “The Soul of Man Under Socialism”, in The Fortnightly Review, volume 49, number 290, page 303:
   • As a matter of fact the Enlightment culture was based on a philosophy inspired to an ethical laicism whose aim was to create a better society based on principles such as solidarity, equality of rights and duties, and full freedom. 2012, Francesca Valensise, From Building Fabric to City Form: Reconstruction in Calabria at end of Eighteenth Century, Gangemi Editore spa, →ISBN, page 8:
5. The ability of someone to aim straight; one’s faculty for being able to hit a physical target.
   • He has a bad aim, so he decided to join archery classes.
   • The police officer has excellent aim, always hitting the bullseye in shooting practice.
6. (obsolete) Conjecture; guess.
   • What you would work me to, I have some aim. 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:

Forms

Deriveds

aimworthy · aimpoint · aim community · aimless · take aim · aimbot · aim-crier · aim assist · cry aim · aimful

Synonyms

aspiration (intention) · design · purpose · ettle · scope · intention · design · object · mint · tendency · purpose · scheme · end · scheme

Translations (159)

tr maksat (intention; purpose) · it obiettivo (point intended to be hit) · fi aikomus (intention; purpose) · it scopo (intention; purpose) · tr nişan (point intended to be hit) · uk мета́ (intention; purpose) · sa अर्थ (intention; purpose) · es finalidad (intention; purpose) · uk міше́нь (point intended to be hit) · el σκόπευση (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · mi whāinga (point intended to be hit) · ar هَدَف (intention; purpose) · pt mira (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · fi tähtäys (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · be мішэ́нь (point intended to be hit) · es objetivo (point intended to be hit) · el σημάδι (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · sh méta (point intended to be hit) · fi maali (point intended to be hit) · kix vāthāh (intention; purpose) · hu szándék (intention; purpose) · sk cieľ (intention; purpose) · kk нысана (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · ta நோக்கம் (intention; purpose) · es objetivo (intention; purpose) · ba ниәт (intention; purpose) · fr but (intention; purpose) · ota غایه (intention; purpose) · hu cél (intention; purpose) · eo celo (intention; purpose) · te లక్ష్యము (point intended to be hit) · ko 목표 (point intended to be hit) · hy նպատակ (intention; purpose) · ml ലക്ഷ്യം (intention; purpose) · sh méta (intention; purpose) · io skopo (point intended to be hit) · ga aimsiú (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · cs terč (point intended to be hit) · mk нишан (point intended to be hit) · tr hedef (point intended to be hit) · hu cél (point intended to be hit) · fi tavoite (intention; purpose) · kk нысана (point intended to be hit) · de Ziel (point intended to be hit) · it obiettivo (intention; purpose) · be наме́р (intention; purpose) · ja 目的 (intention; purpose) · mi whāinga (intention; purpose) · tk maksat (intention; purpose) · sh ци̑љ (intention; purpose) · bg мише́на (point intended to be hit) · sv sikte (intention; purpose) · mk мета (intention; purpose) · ta குறிக்கோள் (intention; purpose) · es intención (intention; purpose) · cmn 標的 /标的 (point intended to be hit) · uk на́мір (intention; purpose) · sl cilj (intention; purpose) · nl doel (point intended to be hit) · fr visée (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · fr ambition (intention; purpose) · cmn 目標 /目标 (intention; purpose) · ro intenție (intention; purpose) · ro țintă (point intended to be hit) · nl bedoeling (intention; purpose) · uk ціль (point intended to be hit) · sh ме́та (point intended to be hit) · sh ме́та (intention; purpose) · bg цел (point intended to be hit) · fr cible (point intended to be hit) · cs cíl (intention; purpose) · uk ціль (intention; purpose) · gl sisto (point intended to be hit) · cmn 靶子 (point intended to be hit) · be цэль (intention; purpose) · ota مقصد (intention; purpose) · es meta (intention; purpose) · ml ഉന്നം (point intended to be hit) · kk көздеу (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · be цэль (point intended to be hit) · hi इरादा (intention; purpose) · pt objetivo (intention; purpose) · gl fito (point intended to be hit) · ru прице́л (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · sk terč (point intended to be hit) · hi उद्देश्य (intention; purpose) · sh nìšan (point intended to be hit) · tr garaz (intention; purpose) · ta குறி (point intended to be hit) · ru цель (point intended to be hit) · id tujuan (intention; purpose) · nl doel (intention; purpose) · ru мише́нь (point intended to be hit) · nl oogmerk (intention; purpose) · bg прице́л (point intended to be hit) · hi लक्ष्य (intention; purpose) · ko 목적 (intention; purpose) · de Zielscheibe (point intended to be hit) · pt alvo (point intended to be hit) · vi nhắm (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · it priorità (intention; purpose) · hu célkitűzés (intention; purpose) · es puntería (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · bn মকসদ (intention; purpose) · ota هدف (intention; purpose) · ms توجوان (intention; purpose) · el σκοπός (intention; purpose) · fr mire (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · gl obxectivo (intention; purpose) · ja 狙い (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · ml ഉന്നം (intention; purpose) · cmn 目的 (intention; purpose) · ba маҡсат (intention; purpose) · pl tarcza (point intended to be hit) · pt pontaria (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · sh cȋlj (intention; purpose) · de Zielen (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · ro obiectiv (point intended to be hit) · be мэ́та (intention; purpose) · bg намере́ние (intention; purpose) · fi tarkoitus (intention; purpose) · ta இலக்கு (point intended to be hit) · de Ziel (intention; purpose) · de Schießscheibe (point intended to be hit) · el στόχος (intention; purpose) · it mira (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · hi लक्ष्य (point intended to be hit) · hu célpont (point intended to be hit) · ru наме́рение (intention; purpose) · bg цел (intention; purpose) · mk цел (intention; purpose) · pl cel (intention; purpose) · ru цель (intention; purpose) · ko 조준하다 (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · fr objectif (intention; purpose) · ta குறி (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · ro țel (point intended to be hit) · ga aidhm (intention; purpose) · ceb tuyo (intention; purpose) · grc σκοπός (intention; purpose) · gd amas (intention; purpose) · ro scop (intention; purpose) · ca fi (intention; purpose) · hy նպատակ (point intended to be hit) · ja 目標 (intention; purpose) · ms tujuan (intention; purpose) · el στόχος (point intended to be hit) · es pajero (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · es pretensión (intention; purpose) · gd amas (point intended to be hit) · pl cel (point intended to be hit) · cmn 瞄準 /瞄准 (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · ko 목표 (intention; purpose) · sh нѝшан (point intended to be hit) · sl tarča (point intended to be hit) · ml ലക്ഷ്യം (point intended to be hit) · vi ngắm (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · ro ochire (pointing of a weapon towards a particular point or object) · fi tähtäyspiste (point intended to be hit)

aim en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /eɪm/
• (US) audio
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

The verb is from Middle English amen, aimen, eimen (“to guess at, to estimate, to aim”), borrowed from Old French esmer, aesmer, asmer, from Latin ad- plus aestimare (“to estimate”), the compound perhaps being originally formed in Medieval Latin (adaestimare), perhaps in Old French. The noun is from Middle English ame, from Old French aesme, esme.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To point or direct a missile, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it
   • He aimed at the target, but the arrow flew straight over it.
2. (intransitive) To direct the intention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor;—followed by at, or by an infinitive
   • Risk is everywhere.[…]For each one there is a frighteningly precise measurement of just how likely it is to jump from the shadows and get you. “The Norm Chronicles”[…]aims to help data-phobes find their way through this blizzard of risks. 2013 June 22, “Snakes and ladders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 76:
   • to aim to do well in life
   • The stories did not seem to me to touch life. They were plainly intended to have a bracing moral effect, and perhaps had this result for the people at whom they were aimed. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter I, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
   • to aim at a pass
3. (transitive) To direct or point (e.g. a weapon), at a particular object; to direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an object
   • to aim an arrow at the deer
   • She aimed a punch at her ex-boyfriend.
   • He aimed the gun at him and he held his hands up in surrender.
4. (transitive) To direct (something verbal) towards a certain person, thing, or group
   • to aim a satirical comment at Communists in general
5. (intransitive, obsolete) To guess or conjecture.
   • But, good my lord, do it so cunningly / That my discovery be not aimed at; c. 1589–1593, William Shakespeare, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, act 3, scene 1, lines 44–45:

Forms

Deriveds

fire! · unaiming · misaim · aim at · aim for · aim high · aim for the stars · ready · aimable · reaim · aim for the sky · aimer

Synonyms

point

Translations (106)

ru стреми́ться (to direct the intention or purpose) · hu céloz (to point or direct a missile weapon) · mi kero (to point or direct a missile weapon) · id membidik (to point or direct a missile weapon) · es apuntar (to point or direct a missile weapon) · cmn 瞄準 /瞄准 (to point or direct a missile weapon) · be намага́цца (to direct the intention or purpose) · uk пра́гнути (to direct the intention or purpose) · gd amais (to point or direct a missile weapon) · hi साधना (to point or direct a missile weapon) · pl wycelować (to point or direct a missile weapon) · gd amais (to direct the intention or purpose) · kk көздеу (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ca apuntar (to point or direct a missile weapon) · pt mirar (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ca apuntar (to direct the intention or purpose) · th เล็ง (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ru наце́ливать (to point or direct a missile weapon) · es abocar (to direct the intention or purpose) · fi pyrkiä (to direct the intention or purpose) · es pretender (to direct the intention or purpose) · sk zamieriť (to point or direct a missile weapon) · sk mieriť (to point or direct a missile weapon) · km មានបំណង (to direct the intention or purpose) · ru име́ть в виду́ (to direct the intention or purpose) · pl celować (to point or direct a missile weapon) · be пра́гнуць (to direct the intention or purpose) · sv sikta (to point or direct a missile weapon) · hu célba vesz (to point or direct a missile weapon) · de zielen (to point or direct a missile weapon) · bg прице́лвам се (to point or direct a missile weapon) · es encaminar (to direct the intention or purpose) · bg це́ля се (to point or direct a missile weapon) · izh tarkata (to point or direct a missile weapon) · cu направити (to direct the intention or purpose) · es encañonar (to point or direct a missile weapon) · nl richten (to point or direct a missile weapon) · be прыцэ́львацца (to point or direct a missile weapon) · fi tähdätä (to point or direct a missile weapon) · hu ráirányít (to point or direct a missile weapon) · hu irányít (to point or direct a missile weapon) · uk намага́тися (to direct the intention or purpose) · pt apontar (to direct the intention or purpose) · bg домо́гвам се (to direct the intention or purpose) · be прыцэ́ліцца (to point or direct a missile weapon) · hu megcéloz (to direct the intention or purpose) · es baraustar (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ru направля́ть (to point or direct a missile weapon) · da rette (to point or direct a missile weapon) · mk цели (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ja 狙う (to point or direct a missile weapon) · eo celi (to point or direct a missile weapon) · izh tarkoittaa (to point or direct a missile weapon) · id bidik (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ru прице́ливаться (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ru ме́тить (to direct the intention or purpose) · uk приці́литися (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ta குறி வை (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ga aimsigh (to point or direct a missile weapon) · de zielen (to direct the intention or purpose) · it puntare (to direct the intention or purpose) · hu megcéloz (to point or direct a missile weapon) · uk приці́люватися (to point or direct a missile weapon) · es empistolar (to point or direct a missile weapon) · fr cibler (to direct the intention or purpose) · vi nhắm (to point or direct a missile weapon) · hu igyekszik (to direct the intention or purpose) · hu szándékozik (to direct the intention or purpose) · fr viser (to direct the intention or purpose) · cs namířit (to point or direct a missile weapon) · cs mířit (to point or direct a missile weapon) · hts tanche (to point or direct a missile weapon) · be цэ́ліцца (to point or direct a missile weapon) · pl mierzyć (to point or direct a missile weapon) · hu céloz (to direct the intention or purpose) · mi titiro whakakeko (to point or direct a missile weapon) · pt almejar (to direct the intention or purpose) · it indirizzare (to direct the intention or purpose) · lb biichten (to point or direct a missile weapon) · uk ці́литися (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ta நோக்கு (to direct the intention or purpose) · bg прице́ля се (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ru це́литься (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ja 目指す (to direct the intention or purpose) · km តម្រង់ (to point or direct a missile weapon) · es asestar (to point or direct a missile weapon) · es encarar (to point or direct a missile weapon) · pt apontar (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ast apuntar (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ga aimsigh (to direct the intention or purpose) · cs zamýšlet (to direct the intention or purpose) · az tuşlamaq (to point or direct a missile weapon) · cs zamířit (to point or direct a missile weapon) · bg стремя́ се (to direct the intention or purpose) · hu törekszik (to direct the intention or purpose) · ru домога́ться (to direct the intention or purpose) · mi whakakeko (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ast amotar (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ru прице́литься (to point or direct a missile weapon) · ota نشانلامق (to point or direct a missile weapon) · eo celi (to direct the intention or purpose) · it mirare (to point or direct a missile weapon) · es abocar (to point or direct a missile weapon) · it tendere (to direct the intention or purpose) · it puntare (to point or direct a missile weapon) · fr viser (to point or direct a missile weapon)

aim en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /eɪm/
• (US) audio
• (Southern-England) audio

Meanings

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism) Initialism of America Online AIM; AOL Instant Messenger.
   alt of America Online AIM