shot
Pronunciation: (shot), [key]
— n., pl. v., shots shot shot•ted, shot•ting.
—n.
- a discharge of a firearm, bow, etc.
- the range of or the distance traveled by a missile in its flight.
- an aimed discharge of a missile.
- an attempt to hit a target with a missile.
- an act or instance of shooting a firearm, bow, etc.
- a small ball or pellet of lead, a number of which are loaded in a cartridge and used for one charge of a shotgun.
- such pellets collectively: a charge of shot.
- a projectile for discharge from a firearm or cannon.
- such projectiles collectively: shot and shell.
- a person who shoots; marksman: He was a good shot.
- a blow; punch: The prizefighter was knocked out by a shot in the chin.
- anything like a shot, esp. in being sudden and forceful.
- a heavy metal ball that competitors cast as far as possible in shot-putting contests.
- an aimed stroke, throw, or the like, as in certain games, esp. in an attempt to score.
- an attempt or try: He's entitled to a shot at the championship.
- a remark aimed at some person or thing.
- a guess at something.
- a hypodermic injection, as of a serum, vaccine, narcotic, or anaesthetic: He took a series of immunizing shots for hay fever.
- a small quantity, esp. an ounce, of undiluted liquor.
- an amount due, esp. at a tavern.
- Here's a nice shot of my kids.
- a photograph, esp. a snapshot:Here's a nice shot of my kids.
- the act of making a photograph, esp. a snapshot.
- a unit of action photographed without interruption and constituting a single camera view.
- an explosive charge in place for detonation, as in mining or quarrying.
- comparatively hard globules of metal in the body of a casting.
- a 90-foot (27-m) length of anchor cable or chain.
- a compulsory series of exchanges, especially when it proves favorable to the aggressor.
- three-shot carpet.
- a pick sent through the shed in a single throw of the shuttle.
- (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.
- a defect in a fabric caused by an unusual color or size in the yarn.
- a chance with odds for and against; a bet: a 20 to 1 shot that his horse will come in first.
- See(def. 4).
- to indicate beforehand what one intends to do and how one intends to do it.
- to have the power or authority to make decisions or control policy: Now that he's chairman of the board, he calls the shots.
- make an attempt at: I'll have a shot at solving the problem.
- instantly; quickly: He bolted out of here like a shot.
- 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.
- a wild guess; a random conjecture.
—v.t.
- to load or supply with shot.
- to weight with shot.
—v.i.
- to manufacture shot, as in a shot tower.
shot
Pronunciation: (shot), [key]
— v.
- pt. and pp. of
—adj.
- woven so as to present a play of colors; having a changeable color; variegated, as silk.
- spread or streaked with color: the dawn sky shot with gold.
- in hopelessly bad condition; ruined: Those sneakers are really shot. His morale is shot.
- intoxicated.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.