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shoot

Syllabification: (shoot)
Pronunciation: /SHo͞ot/

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Definition of shoot

verb (past and past participle shot /SHät/)

  • 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
  • [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
  • cause (a gun) to fire.
  • damage or remove (something) with a bullet or missile:Guy, shoot their hats off
  • [no object] hunt game with a gun:we go to Scotland to shoot every autumn
  • [no object] (shoot over) shoot game over (an estate or other area of countryside).
  • shoot game in or on (an estate, cover, etc.).
  • 2 [no object] move suddenly and rapidly in a particular direction:the car shot forward Ward’s hand shot out, grabbing his arm
  • [with object] cause to move suddenly and rapidly in a particular direction:he would have fallen if Marc hadn’t shot out a hand to stop him Beauchamp shot United into the lead
  • [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
  • used to invite a comment or question:“May I just ask you one more question?” “Shoot.”
  • (of a pain) move with a sharp stabbing sensation:Claudia felt a shaft of pain shoot through her chest figurativea pang of regret shot through her
  • [with object] (of a boat) sweep swiftly down or under (rapids, a waterfall, or a bridge).
  • [with object] informal (of a motor vehicle) pass (a traffic light at red).
  • extend sharply in a particular direction:a road that seemed to just shoot upward at a terrifying angle
  • [with object] move (a door bolt) to fasten or unfasten a door.
  • 3 [no object] (in soccer, hockey, basketball, etc.) kick, hit, or throw the ball or puck in an attempt to score a goal:Williams twice shot wide [with object]:after school, we’d go straight out in the alley to shoot baskets
  • [with object] informal make (a specified score) for a round of golf:in the second round he shot a 65
  • [with object] informal play a game of (pool or dice).
  • 4 [with object] film or photograph (a scene, film, etc.):she has just been commissioned to shoot a video [no object]:point the camera and just shoot—nothing could be easier
  • 5 [no object] (of a plant or seed) send out buds or shoots; germinate.
  • (of a bud or shoot) appear; sprout.
  • 6 [with object] informal inject oneself or another person with (a narcotic drug):he shot dope into his arm
  • 7 [with object] plane (the edge of a board) accurately.

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
  • 2an occasion when a group of people hunt and shoot game for sport:a grouse shoot
  • British land used for shooting game.
  • a shooting match or contest:activities include a weekly 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
  • 5a rapid in a stream:follow the portages that skirt all nine shoots of whitewater

exclamation

informal
  • used as a euphemism for ‘shit’:shoot, it was a great day to be alive

Phrases

have shot one's bolt

see bolt1.

shoot the breeze (or the bull)

informal have a casual conversation.

shoot one's cuffs

pull one’s shirt cuffs out to project beyond the cuffs of one’s jacket or coat.

shoot from the hip

informal react suddenly or without careful consideration of one’s words or actions.

shoot oneself in the foot

informal inadvertently make a situation worse for oneself.

shoot it out

informal engage in a decisive confrontation, typically a gun battle.

shoot a line

British informal describe something in an exaggerated, untruthful, or boastful way:he never shot a line about his escapades

shoot one's mouth off

informal talk boastfully or indiscreetly.

Phrasal Verbs

shoot someone/something down

bring down an aircraft or missile by shooting at it:their helicopter was shot down by an air-to-air missile
kill or wound someone by shooting them, especially in a ruthless way:troops shot down 28 demonstrators
crush someone or their opinions by forceful criticism or argument:she tried to argue and got shot down in flames for her trouble

shoot through

Australian/New Zealand informal leave, typically to escape from or avoid someone or something:me wife’s shot through and I can’t pay the rent
[ 1940s: from shoot through like a Bondi tram (Bondi being the name of a Sydney suburb)]

shoot up

  • 1(especially of a child) grow taller rapidly:when she hit thirteen she shot up to a startling 5 foot 9
  • (of a price or amount) rise suddenly.

shoot someone/something up

  • 1cause great damage to something by shooting; kill or wound someone by shooting:the police shot up our building
  • 2 (also shoot up) informal inject a narcotic drug; inject someone with a narcotic drug:she went home and shot up alone in her room I was shooting up cocaine shoot people up with the new chemical and see what happens

Derivatives

shootable

adjective

Origin:

Old English scēotan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch scieten and German schiessen, also to sheet1, shot1, and shut

shoot in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of shoot in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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