I. ˈgōl, chiefly in dial or substand speech ˈgül noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English gol boundary, limit; perhaps akin to Old English gǣlan to hinder, impede — more at gill (ravine)
1.
a. : the mark to which the contestants in a race run : the terminal point of a race
runners who run well from the starting place to the goal — Benjamin Jowett
b. : an area that is to be reached for safety or as the objective in children's games
c. : the conical column that marks each of the two turning points in a chariot race
the space between the two … goals was filled with statues and obelisks — Edward Gibbon
2. : the end toward which effort or ambition is directed : aim , purpose
leisure is a real commodity, a prize of life, a goal to strive for — C.C.Furnas
: a condition or state to be brought about through a course of action
3.
a. : a station, area, cage, basket, or pair of uprights with or without a crossbar toward which the players in various games (as football, basketball, polo, lacrosse, hockey) attempt to advance the ball or puck and usually through or into which it must go in order to score points — see field hockey illustration
b. : the act of causing the ball or puck to go through or into such a goal
c. : the score resulting from such an act
4. : goalkeeper
5. : the object complement of a verb
Synonyms: see intention
•
- in goal
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to seek or score a goal