shoot
/ʃuːt
/verb (past and past participle shot /ʃɒt/)
1 [with object] Kill or wound (a person or animal) with a bullet or arrow: he was shot in the leg during an armed robbery [with object and complement]: troops shot dead 29 people...
- He was shot dead with a bullet to his head in the streets of the camp.
- Robinson was shot dead even though he could have been wounded and arrested.
- One soldier was shot dead and two wounded on Monday as they stood guard outside a weapons depot.
1.1 [no object] Fire a bullet from a gun or discharge an arrow from a bow: he shot at me twice the troops were ordered to shoot to kill [with object]: they shot a volley of arrows into the village...
- Seiya shot at her but the bullets were absorbed by her shield and sent back at her.
- Leroy shot at me, but there had only been one bullet in the gun and it only clicked.
- The kids I see and eat with every day still want to help this country, in spite of getting shot at while doing it.
Synonyms
fire (at/on), open fire (at/on), aim at, snipe at, let fly (at), blaze away;
bombard, shell
discharge, fire, launch, let off, loose off, let fly, send forth, emit
1.2 [no object, with adverbial] Use a firearm with a specified degree of skill: we shot well against Spain...
- Why would you want it any different with a handgun, the most difficult firearm to shoot well?
- Here again, use whatever type firearm you shoot well and feel comfortable with.
- He's strong, a good target man; he's got good skills and can shoot, especially with the left.
1.3Cause (a gun) to fire: I learned to shoot a 9 mm pistol...
- So you never saw him shoot a gun, fire a weapon, right?
- She couldn't shoot a gun, but she could start a fire without a problem.
- At drop off the teacher shoots a starting gun and I sprint from the building and peel out of the parking lot to go and do things.
1.4 [no object] Hunt game with a gun: we go to Scotland to shoot every autumn...
- Some people argue that hunting is more cruel than shooting as some hunts last for 25 miles and up to 8 hours.
- Throughout his life he maintained an interest in country ways including National Hunt racing, shooting and fly-fishing.
- On the other hand, I know there are a lot of folks living outside Manhattan who hunt or enjoy shooting.
2Move or cause to move suddenly and rapidly in a particular direction: [no object, with adverbial of direction]: the car shot forward Ward’s hand shot out, grabbing his arm [with object and adverbial of direction]: he would have fallen if Marc hadn’t shot out a hand to stop him...
- His car then shot forward, hit Mr Skipworth, and then careered into a second parked car.
- Her car then shot forward and went over the cliff through the railings between some seating.
- He shot forward suddenly, knocking me backwards with a powerful kick to my chest.
Synonyms
race, hurry, hasten, flash, dash, dart, rush, speed, hurtle, streak, really move, spank along, whirl, whizz, go like lightning, go hell for leather, whoosh, buzz, zoom, swoop, blast, charge;
stampede, gallop, chase, career, bustle, sweep, hare, fly, wing, scurry, scud, scutter
informal belt, scoot, scorch, tear, zap, zip, whip (along), get cracking, get a move on, step on it, burn rubber, go like a bat out of hell
British informal bomb, bucket, shift, put one's foot down
North American informal clip, boogie, hightail, barrel, lay rubber
literary fleet
North American vulgar slang drag/tear/haul ass
archaic post, hie
2.1 [no object] (Of a pain) move with a sharp stabbing sensation: Claudia felt a pain shoot through her chest figurative a pang of regret shot through her...
- Groggy farmers and their families awoke with throats, eyes and lungs seared and burning, pain shooting into their chests.
- To make matters even worse, sharp needles of pain were shooting across her eyes and the soup felt like lead in her stomach.
- As I reached up to press the elevator button, I winced at the crackling pain shooting down from my shoulder along my arm.
2.2 [no object] Extend sharply in a particular direction: a road that seemed to just shoot upwards at a terrifying angle...
- When your known risk shoots upward based on new knowledge, you either eat the cost or you get subsidized.
- Then it suggests that there be a uniform PDS price virtually at acquisition cost, thus allowing BPL prices to shoot upwards.
- Not surprisingly, many listed retailers saw profits shoot upwards as well, tripling in some cases.
2.3 [with object] Move (a bolt) to fasten or unfasten a door: she shot the bolt on the bathroom door...
- When he and his mother had gone out into the darkness, my father shut the front door and shot the big brass bolt.
- The sterling barkeep takes his large key over to the door and locks it, shooting the bolts home with a quiet trepidation.
- The effort necessary to shoot a bolt from within a lock is drawn from Houdini the medium, but it must not be thought that this is the only means by which he can escape from his prison.
2.4 [with object] (Of a boat) sweep swiftly down or under (rapids, a waterfall, or a bridge): those of you looking for adventure can shoot the rapids...
- They will travel after taking their GCSE's and take part in lots of different sporting activities from tobogganing to shooting the rapids and boat trips to get close to dolphins and whales.
- In one case, we hiked a little up the Little Colorado River to shoot some rapids ‘body-style’ in our life jackets.
- Rowing through a bridge, every sound of the boat echoes, and shooting a bridge adds a burst of power through the boat.
2.5 [with object] informal (Of a motor vehicle) pass (a traffic light at red): drivers could lose their licences for shooting too many red lights...
- I recently received a ticket for shooting a red light in Phoenix, Arizona.
- The same week, a very experienced and fit cyclist mate permanently damaged his arm after shooting a red light into the path of an oncoming car.
- In a train crash in 1990, the driver was held to blame for over-shooting a red light.
2.6 [no object] Cricket (Of a ball) dart along the ground after pitching: a ball pitching on that spot would sometimes shoot...
- The ball shot to the off side.
- The ball shot through my legs and we managed to scramble two byes.
3 [no object] (In football, hockey, basketball, etc.) kick, hit, or throw the ball or puck in an attempt to score a goal: Williams twice shot wide [with object]: he shot the ball straight at the goalkeeper...
- He chested down a cross on the edge of the box, juggled it once on his foot with back to goal, turned and shot with his left.
- He can dribble, he is not afraid to beat men, and of course he can cross, shoot and take free kicks perfectly-what more could you really want from a midfielder?
- Our game plan in the Finals was to take the puck wide, shoot, and go for rebounds.
3.1 [with object] informal Make (a specified score) for a round of golf: in the second round he shot a 65...
- Melissa Nawa improved her game, shooting an amazing six-over-par 78 but Michael Chiluba bowed out of the competition.
- Meanwhile, Englands Lee Westwood shot a four-under-par 67 yesterday.
- The Australian shot a final round of 63 for a 26-under-par total of 262 to secure his second win of the season and third European Tour title.
3.2 [with object] North American informal Play a game of (pool or dice): although we never shot dice, my friends and I played every variation of poker...
- The two plan to use all of their knowledge of cardsharking, pool shooting, and rolling dice at an unprecedented worldwide gathering of hustlers.
- I don't know if he could shoot pool, although I had the feeling finding out could prove expensive.
- Show me an accountant that shoots pool, and I'll show you a game that is carefully calculated.
4 [with object] Direct (a glance, question, or remark) at someone: [with two objects]: Luke shot her a quick glance [with direct speech]: ‘I can’t believe what I’m hearing,’ she shot back...
- I remarked shooting a pointed glance at the stereo where someone was still supposedly singing.
- He pointedly shot a questioning glance at Lino, nodding his head towards Mel and Jessica.
- Then he shot a questioning glance towards his superior, wondering if he should continue.
4.1 [no object, in imperative] Used to invite a comment or question: ‘May I just ask you one more question?’ ‘Shoot.’...
- Then you say, "now can i ask you a question?", then Dominic says "okay, shoot".
- Okay, shoot. But don't ask me who the vice president of India is. I hope you know I dont really read news papers that much.
5 [with object] Film or photograph (a scene, film, etc.): she has just been commissioned to shoot a video...
- Much of the film is intentionally shot on video tape, so some scenes look grainy and soft.
- It also meant that every sequence in the film could be shot on location, without the need to make the scenes inside the cab look as though they are fake.
- Once all the ingredients are assembled, making a film involves shooting scenes and editing them to create the final sensation.
Synonyms
film, photograph, take/get a photograph/photo of, take/get photographs of, take/get a picture of, take/get pictures of, take someone's picture/photo, take/get a snapshot/snap of, take, snap, capture/record on film/celluloid;
make a film of, televise, video
6 [no object] (Of a plant or seed) send out buds or shoots; germinate: some years one or other plant fails to shoot...
- Vines were also shooting out at Hadez as he spoke.
- When Dahlia tubers shoot, divide and plant in a sunny spot in the garden.
- Then they start shooting out seeds, which go a certain distance then fall to the ground and grow.
6.1(Of a bud or shoot) appear; sprout: they move up into the stem where they induce buds to shoot...
- Near the base each cord has a short branch shooting upward on its right side.
- Spiky vines shot out of the grass.
- I pictured the vines shooting out and finally felt the warmth that meant the magic was coming.
Synonyms
sprout, put forth shoots, put forth buds, bud, burgeon, germinate
technical pullulate
7 [with object] informal Inject oneself or another person with (a narcotic drug): he shot dope into his arm...
- In the last three weeks, up to 25 drug users have come here every night to shoot heroin and cocaine into their veins.
- In addition, there were frequent public outcries over the users' behaviors, such as shooting their drugs openly in public places.
- And while the woman did shoot heroin, she also shot a lot of cocaine.
8 [with object] Plane (the edge of a board) accurately: I shot the longer edge down on the planer...
- The weight is really a plus when shooting hard and/or thick material.
- Shoot the edges perfectly straight, true, and square, or at right angles to the face side.
noun
1A young branch or sucker springing from the main stock of a tree or other plant: he nipped off the new shoots that grew where the leaves joined the stems...
- Three similar branches, shoots or tillers per plant were selected for the three treatments.
- Separate two to three young roots and shoots from the main plant every 4 to 5 years.
- Tiny flowers may appear in late summer - pinch off the blooms and growing shoots of young plants to maintain foliage colour and encourage bushiness.
Synonyms
sprout, offshoot, scion, sucker, bud, spear, runner, tendril, sprig, cutting
technical stolon, flagellum, bine, ratoon
2An occasion when a group of people hunt and shoot game for sport: a grouse shoot...
- It featured a sporting clay shoot, guided hunts for pheasant and quail and a celebrity dinner with live and silent auctions.
- In the first, the applicant S took part in a protest against a grouse shoot.
- Grouse and partridge shoots are run separately.
2.1British An area of land used for shooting game: we rented a rough shoot of about a thousand acres...
- The game shoots of the area supply plenty of pheasant in season, but other game, such as grouse, has suffered due to a succession of wet winters.
- Game farmers hatch out eggs and day old chicks or poults are delivered to the shoot depending on the model they are operating.
- There is another similar shoot up the same valley.
2.2A shooting match: activities include a weekly rifle shoot...
- Burridge will now compete with the top 20 scorers in a shoulder-to-shoulder shoot at Bookham Rifle Club on April 6.
- I also agree that Victoria has been jobbing, due to the fact that if there were a shoot match, the outcome would likely be much different.
- The races test competitors' teamwork skills, skiing and physical and mental strength as well as accuracy in the rifle shoot.
3An occasion when a professional photographer takes photographs or when a film or video is being made: a photo shoot a fashion shoot...
- Based on what I have learned from past experiences, here are some pointers to make the most of your camp's video or photography shoot.
- It may be an unusual combination, but the two pursuits don't necessarily conflict, except when Ciara turns up for a fashion shoot sporting a few cuts and bruises.
- ‘The rest of the week, I have modeling shoots and press conferences,’ she said.
4 variant spelling of chute1.
5A rapid in a stream: follow the portages that skirt all nine shoots of whitewater...
- I swooshed down the shoot and collided with the wave from the bowl.
- However, we still had one more spot of whitewater to hit: the shoot of Death.
exclamation North American informal
Used as a euphemism for ‘shit’: shoot, it was a great day to be alive...
- The longer races are natural for me because - shoot! - I got my early training chasing the bicycle team around town.
- I ran out my door, slamming it, so I'd wake up all the neighbors; shoot, only one light turned on.
- Now, a story about ‘a boy from the hood making good’ may not sound so miraculous to you; shoot, it may even sound easily obtainable we heard it so much.
Phrases
have shot one's bolt
shoot the breeze (or the bull)
shoot one's cuffs
shoot from the hip
shoot oneself in the foot
shoot it out
shoot a line
shoot one's mouth off
Phrasal verbs
shoot someone/thing down
shoot through
shoot up
shoot someone/thing up
Derivatives
shootable
- Overall, I'm pleased with this solid, shootable gun.
- Amazingly, the gun press reviews I've consulted say that it is a genuinely manageable, shootable gun, the result of excellent design.
- Both the Model '73 and '92 are grand choices for cowboy shooters, but originals are hard to find in good, shootable condition at a reasonable price.
Origin
Old English scēotan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch schieten and German schiessen, also to sheet1, shot1, and shut.
see sheet, shut