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View synonyms for

shot

1

[shot]

noun

plural

shots, shot 
  1. a discharge of a firearm, bow, etc.

  2. the range of or the distance traveled by a missile in its flight.

  3. an aimed discharge of a missile.

  4. an attempt to hit a target with a missile.

  5. an act or instance of shooting a firearm, bow, etc.

  6. a small ball or pellet of lead, a number of which are loaded in a cartridge and used for one charge of a shotgun.

  7. such pellets collectively.

    a charge of shot.

  8. a projectile for discharge from a firearm or cannon.

  9. such projectiles collectively.

    shot and shell.

  10. a person who shoots; marksman.

    He was a good shot.

  11. Slang.a blow; punch.

    The prizefighter was knocked out by a shot in the chin.

  12. anything like a shot, especially in being sudden and forceful.

  13. a heavy metal ball that competitors cast as far as possible in shot-putting contests.

  14. an aimed stroke, throw, or the like, as in certain games, especially in an attempt to score.

  15. an attempt or try.

    He's entitled to a shot at the championship.

    Synonyms: , ,
  16. a remark aimed at some person or thing.

  17. a guess at something.

  18. a hypodermic injection, as of a serum, vaccine, narcotic, or anaesthetic.

    He took a series of immunizing shots for hay fever.

  19. a small quantity, especially an ounce, of undiluted liquor.

  20. an amount due, especially at a tavern.

  21. Photography.

    1. a photograph, especially a snapshot: snapshot.

      Here's a nice shot of my kids.

    2. the act of making a photograph, especially a snapshot.

  22. Movies, Television.a unit of action photographed without interruption and constituting a single camera view.

  23. an explosive charge in place for detonation, as in mining or quarrying.

  24. Metallurgy.comparatively hard globules of metal in the body of a casting.

  25. Nautical.a 90-foot (27-meter) length of anchor cable or chain.

  26. Checkers.a compulsory series of exchanges, especially when it proves favorable to the aggressor.

  27. Textiles.

    1. a pick sent through the shed in a single throw of the shuttle.

    2. (in carpet weaving) filling yarn used to bind the pile to the fabric, usually expressed with a preceding number representing the quantity of picks used.

      three-shot carpet.

    3. a defect in a fabric caused by an unusual color or size in the yarn.

  28. a chance with odds for and against; a bet.

    a 20 to 1 shot that his horse will come in first.



verb (used with object)

shotted, shotting 
  1. to load or supply with shot.

  2. to weight with shot.

verb (used without object)

shotted, shotting 
  1. to manufacture shot, as in a shot tower.

shot

2

[shot]

verb

  1. simple past tense and past participle of shoot.

adjective

  1. woven so as to present a play of colors; having a changeable color; variegated, as silk.

  2. spread or streaked with color.

    the dawn sky shot with gold.

  3. in hopelessly bad condition; ruined.

    Those sneakers are really shot. His morale is shot.

  4. Slang.intoxicated.

shot

1

/ ʃɒ /

noun

  1. the act or an instance of discharging a projectile

  2. a solid missile, such as an iron ball or a lead pellet, discharged from a firearm

    1. small round pellets of lead collectively, as used in cartridges

    2. metal in the form of coarse powder or small pellets

  3. the distance that a discharged projectile travels or is capable of travelling

  4. a person who shoots, esp with regard to his ability

    he is a good shot

  5. informalan attempt; effort

  6. informala guess or conjecture

  7. any act of throwing or hitting something, as in certain sports

  8. the launching of a rocket, missile, etc, esp to a specified destination

    a moon shot

    1. a single photograph

      I took 16 shots of the wedding

    2. a series of frames on cine film concerned with a single event

    3. a length of film taken by a single camera without breaks, used with others to build up a full motion picture or television film

  9. informalan injection, as of a vaccine or narcotic drug

  10. informala glass of alcoholic drink, esp spirits

  11. sport a heavy metal ball used in the shot put

  12. an explosive charge used in blasting

  13. globules of metal occurring in the body of a casting that are harder than the rest of the casting

  14. a unit of chain length equal to 75 feet (Brit) or 90 feet (US)

  15. slangto have control over an organization, course of action, etc

  16. informal

    1. to attempt

    2. to jibe at or vex

  17. very quickly, esp willingly

  18. informalanything that regenerates, increases confidence or efficiency, etc

    his arrival was a shot in the arm for the company

  19. a wild guess

  20. informalthat is the right thing to do

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to weight or load with shot

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

shot

2

/ ʃɒ /

verb

  1. the past tense and past participle of shoot

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. (of textiles) woven to give a changing colour effect

    shot silk

  2. streaked with colour

  3. slangexhausted

  4. slangto get rid of

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • shotless adjective
  • shotlike adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of shot1

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sc(e)ot, (ge)sceot; cognate with German Schoss, Geschoss; akin to shoot 1 ( def. )

Origin of shot2

First recorded in 1830–40, for the adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of shot1

Old English scot; related to Old Norse skot, Old High German scoz missile; see shoot
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. shot in the arm, something that results in renewed vigor, confidence, etc.; stimulus.

    Her recent promotion has given her a shot in the arm. The new members gave the club a shot in the arm.

  2. have / take a shot at, make an attempt at.

    I'll have a shot at solving the problem.

  3. by a long shot. long shot.

  4. call the shots, to have the power or authority to make decisions or control policy.

    Now that he's chairman of the board, he calls the shots.

  5. call one's shots, to indicate beforehand what one intends to do and how one intends to do it.

  6. shot in the dark, a wild guess; a random conjecture.

  7. like a shot, instantly; quickly.

    He bolted out of here like a shot.

In addition to the idioms beginning with shot, also see big cheese (shot); call the shots; cheap shot; give it one's best shot; have a crack (shot) at; like a shot; long shot; parting shot. Also see under shoot.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their home early Saturday morning .

From

A mammoth fourth game saw seven deuces and Maria saving two break points for 3-1, before a brilliant scamper to a drop shot in the next allowed her to go a double break up.

From

The encounter with Gavidia and others they are tracking have raised legal questions about enforcement efforts that have swept up hundreds of immigrants and shot fear into the deeply intertwined communities they call home.

From

Watch the best shots from day three at the US Open featuring Scottie Scheffler and Adam Scott as Sam Burns leads into into final round.

From

The Israeli military said troops fired warning shots at a group they believed posed a potential threat, and an aircraft struck one person who moved towards them.

From

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Shostakovichshot-blasting