/ ʃuːt; NAmE / verb , noun , exclamation
■ verb
( shot , shot / ʃɒt; NAmE ʃɑːt/)
WEAPON
1.
shoot (sth) (at sb/sth) | shoot sth (from sth) to fire a gun or other weapon; to fire sth from a weapon :
[ v ]
Don't shoot—I surrender.
troops shooting at the enemy
a serious shooting incident
The police rarely shoot to kill (= try to kill the people they shoot at) .
[ vn ]
He shot an arrow from his bow.
They shot the lock off (= removed it by shooting) .
2.
to kill or wound a person or an animal with a bullet, etc. :
[ vn ]
A man was shot in the leg.
He shot himself during a fit of depression.
The guards were ordered to shoot on sight anyone trying to escape.
[ vn - adj ]
Three people were shot dead during the robbery.
3.
( of a gun or other weapon ) to fire bullets, etc. :
[ vn ]
This is just a toy gun—it doesn't shoot real bullets.
[also v ]
FOR SPORT
4.
to hunt and kill birds and animals with a gun as a sport :
[ vn ]
to shoot pheasants
[ v ]
They go shooting in Scotland.
MOVE QUICKLY
5.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to move suddenly or quickly in one direction; to make sb/sth move in this way :
[ v ]
A plane shot across the sky.
His hand shot out to grab her.
Flames were shooting up through the roof.
( figurative )
The band's last single shot straight to number one in the charts.
[ vn ]
He shot out his hand to grab her.
OF PAIN
6.
[ v ] to move suddenly and quickly and be very sharp :
a shooting pain in the back
The pain shot up her arm.
DIRECT AT SB
7.
shoot sth at sb | shoot sb sth [ no passive ] to direct sth at sb suddenly or quickly :
[ vn , vnn ]
She shot an angry glance at him.
She shot him an angry glance.
[ vn ]
Journalists were shooting questions at the candidates.
FILM / PHOTOGRAPH
8.
to make a film / movie or photograph of sth :
[ v ]
Cameras ready? OK, shoot!
[ vn ]
Where was the movie shot?
The movie was shot in black and white.
IN SPORTS
9.
shoot (at sth) ( in football ( soccer ), hockey , etc. ) to try to kick, hit or throw the ball into a goal or to score a point :
[ v ]
He should have shot instead of passing.
[ vn ]
After school we'd be on the driveway shooting baskets (= playing basketball ) .
10.
[ vn ] ( informal ) ( in golf ) to make a particular score in a complete round or competition :
She shot a 75 in the first round.
PLAY GAME
11.
[ vn ] ( especially NAmE ) to play particular games :
to shoot pool
•
IDIOMS
- be / get shot of sth/sb
- have shot your bolt
- be like shooting fish in a barrel
- shoot the breeze / bull
- shoot from the hip
- shoot yourself in the foot
- shoot it out (with sb)
- shoot the messenger
- shoot your mouth off (about sth)
- shoot the rapids
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- shoot sb/sth down
- shoot for sth
- shoot off
- shoot through
- shoot up
- shoot sth up
■ noun
PLANT
1.
the part that grows up from the ground when a plant starts to grow; a new part that grows on plants or trees :
new green shoots
bamboo shoots
—picture at bulb
FILM / PHOTOGRAPHS
2.
an occasion when sb takes professional photographs for a particular purpose or makes a film / movie :
a fashion shoot
—see also photo shoot
FOR SPORT
3.
( especially BrE ) an occasion when a group of people hunt and shoot animals or birds for sport; the land where this happens
■ exclamation
1.
( NAmE ) used to show that you are annoyed when you do sth stupid or when sth goes wrong (to avoid saying 'shit') :
Shoot! I've forgotten my book!
2.
( especially NAmE ) used to tell sb to say what they want to say :
You want to tell me something? OK, shoot!
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English scēotan , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch scieten and German sciessen , also to sheet , the noun shot , and shut .