shot1

noun

• 1the firing of a gun or cannon:he brought down a caribou with a single shot to the neck figurativethe opening shots have been fired in a legal battle over repairs
• an attempt to hit a target by shooting:he asked me if I would like to have a shot at a pheasant
• [with modifier] the range of a gun or cannon:six more desperadoes came galloping up and halted just out of rifle shot
• a critical or aggressive remark:Paul tried one last shot—“You realize what you want will cost more money?”
• [with adjective] a person with a specified level of ability in shooting:he was an excellent shot at short and long distances

• 2a hit, stroke, or kick of the ball in sports such as basketball, tennis, or golf:his partner pulled off a winning backhand shot
• an attempt to drive a ball into a goal; an attempt to score:he took a shot that the goalie stopped
• informal an attempt to do something:several of the competitors will have a shot at the title

• 3 (plural same) a ball of stone or metal used as a missile fired from a large gun or cannon.
• (also lead shot) tiny lead pellets used in quantity in a single charge or cartridge in a shotgun.
• a heavy ball thrown by a shot-putter.

• 4a photograph:she took a shot of me holding a lamp near my face
• a film sequence photographed continuously by one camera:the movie’s opening shot is of a character walking across a featureless landscape
• the range of a camera’s view:a prop man was standing just out of shot

• 5a small drink, especially of distilled liquor:he took a shot of whiskey
• a single serving of espresso:steamed milk with a shot of espresso
• an injection of a drug or vaccine:Jerry gave the monkey a shot of a sedative

• 6 [usually with modifier] the launch of a space rocket:a moon shot