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)
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- 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