Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of firing a projectile from a weapon: "shoot" can refer to the discharge of a gun, bow, or similar device.
   • A new growth on a plant: "shoot" also means a young branch, stem, or sprout emerging from a plant.
   • A photography or film session: In media, "shoot" refers to a session dedicated to taking photographs or recording film.

2. Verb:

   • To fire a projectile: The primary meaning is to discharge something like a bullet, arrow, or similar missile from a weapon.
   • To move suddenly and rapidly: "shoot" describes moving very quickly in a specific direction.
   • To take a photograph or film: It means to record an image or scene with a camera.
   • To score in sports: In games like basketball or soccer, "shoot" means to attempt to score by propelling the ball toward the goal.
   • To experience a sudden, sharp pain: Used to describe a pain that travels quickly through the body.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The hunters went on a turkey shoot. (The hunters participated in a turkey hunting event.)
  • New green shoots appeared on the rose bush in spring. (New green growths appeared on the rose bush in spring.)
  • The fashion shoot took place in a studio. (The fashion photography session happened in a studio.)

• Verb:

  • The soldier was ordered to shoot at the target. (The soldier was ordered to fire at the target.)
  • The car will shoot down the highway. (The car will move very fast down the highway.)
  • He likes to shoot landscapes with his new camera. (He likes to photograph landscapes with his new camera.)
  • She had a chance to shoot and score the winning goal. (She had a chance to attempt to score and make the winning goal.)
  • A pain shot up my leg when I stood up. (A sudden pain traveled quickly up my leg when I stood up.)

Advanced Usage

• "shoot for": to aim for or try to achieve a goal.

  • We should shoot for a higher sales target this quarter. (We should aim for a higher sales target this quarter.)

• "shoot down": to reject an idea or proposal decisively; to cause an aircraft to fall by hitting it.

  • The committee shot down his proposal immediately. (The committee rejected his proposal immediately.)

• "shoot up": to grow or increase very rapidly.

  • Prices have shot up in the last month. (Prices have increased very quickly in the last month.)

Variants and Related Words

• Shooter (n): a person or device that shoots.

  • He is an excellent shooter on the basketball team. (He is an excellent player who takes shots on the basketball team.)

• Shooting (n/adj): the act of firing a gun; a sudden, sharp pain.

  • The police are investigating the shooting. (The police are investigating the incident where guns were fired.)
  • I have a shooting pain in my back. (I have a sudden, sharp pain in my back.)

Synonyms

• Fire: to discharge a gun or projectile.
• Dash: to run or move quickly.
• Photograph: to take a picture.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Shoot away: to leave quickly.

  • I have to shoot away now or I'll be late. (I have to leave quickly now or I'll be late.)

• Shoot out: to extend suddenly; to resolve a conflict through gunfire.

  • The peninsula shoots out into the sea. (The peninsula extends suddenly into the sea.)
  • The gang had a shoot-out with the police. (The gang had a gunfight with the police.)

Related Idioms

• Shoot the breeze: to chat informally.

  • We sat on the porch, just shooting the breeze. (We sat on the porch, just chatting informally.)

• Shoot oneself in the foot: to do something that unintentionally causes problems for oneself.

  • By arguing with the boss, he really shot himself in the foot. (By arguing with the boss, he really caused problems for himself.)

Noun

1. the act of shooting at targets
   • they hold a shoot every weekend during the summer
2. a new branch

Verb

1. give an injection to
   • We injected the glucose into the patient's vein
2. produce buds, branches, or germinate
   • the potatoes sprouted
3. measure the altitude of by using a sextant
   • shoot a star
4. utter fast and forcefully
   • She shot back an answer
5. score
   • shoot a basket
   • shoot a goal
6. spend frivolously and unwisely
   • Fritter away one's inheritance
7. throw dice, as in a crap game
8. variegate by interweaving weft threads of different colors
   • shoot cloth
9. force or drive (a fluid or gas) into by piercing
   • inject hydrogen into the balloon
10. cause a sharp and sudden pain in
    • The pain shot up her leg
11. emit (as light, flame, or fumes) suddenly and forcefully
    • The dragon shot fumes and flames out of its mouth
12. record on photographic film
    • I photographed the scene of the accident
    • She snapped a picture of the President
13. throw or propel in a specific direction or towards a specific objective
    • shoot craps
    • shoot a golf ball
14. move quickly and violently
    • The car tore down the street
    • He came charging into my office
15. run or move very quickly or hastily
    • She dashed into the yard
16. send forth suddenly, intensely, swiftly
    • shoot a glance
17. make a film or photograph of something
    • take a scene
    • shoot a movie
18. fire a shot
    • the gunman blasted away
19. kill by firing a missile
20. hit with a missile from a weapon