TARGET


Meaning of TARGET in English

I. ˈtär-gət noun

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French targette, targuete, diminutive of targe light shield, from Old French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse targa shield

Date: 14th century

1. : a small round shield

2.

a. : a mark to shoot at

b. : a target marked by shots fired at it

c. : something or someone fired at or marked for attack

d. : a goal to be achieved

3.

a. : an object of ridicule or criticism

b. : something or someone to be affected by an action or development

4.

a. : the metallic surface (as of platinum or tungsten) upon which the stream of electrons within an X-ray tube is focused and from which the X-rays are emitted

b. : a body, surface, or material bombarded with nuclear particles or electrons ; especially : fluorescent material on which desired visual effects are produced in electronic devices (as in radar)

- off target

- on target

II. transitive verb

Date: 1837

1. : to make a target of

target ed her for promotion

especially : to set as a goal

2. : to direct or use toward a target

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.