26984 words

shoot

22 definitions • 34 examples
1
to fire a bullet or an arrow, or to hit, injure, or kill a person or animal by firing a bullet or arrow at him, her, or it:

Examples:

If he's not armed, don't shoot.
shoot something at something The kids were shooting arrows at a target.
She was shot three times in the head.
He has a licence to shoot pheasants on the farmer's land.
be shot dead [ + obj + adj ] A policeman was shot dead in the city centre last night.
shoot to kill The troops were told to shoot to kill.
2
to try to score points for yourself or your team, in sports involving a ball, by kicking, hitting, or throwing the ball towards the goal:

Examples:

He shot from the middle of the field and still managed to score.
3
to play basketball:

Examples:

She stands in the driveway for hours in the evening, shooting baskets.
4
to move in a particular direction very quickly and directly:

Examples:

shoot past She shot past me several metres before the finishing line.
shoot out He shot out of the office a minute ago - I think he was late for a meeting.
shoot off They were just shooting off to work so we didn't stop to talk.
shoot to fame Sylvester Stallone shot to fame (= became famous suddenly) with the movie "Rocky".
5
to move through or past something quickly:

Examples:

shoot (the) traffic lights informal He shot three sets of traffic lights (= went past them when they gave the signal to stop) before the police caught him.
shoot the rapids It was so exhilarating shooting the rapids (= travelling through the part of a river where the water flows dangerously fast).
6
to use a camera to record a video or take a photograph:

Examples:

We shot four reels of film in Egypt.
be shot on location The movie was shot on location in Southern India.
7
to play a game of pool or craps
8
to take an illegal drug by injecting yourself with it:

Examples:

By the time he was 16, he was shooting heroin twice a day.
9
the first part of a plant to appear above the ground as it develops from a seed, or any new growth on an already existing plant:

Examples:

Two weeks after we'd planted the seeds, little green shoots started to appear.
figurative The first green shoots (= hopeful signs) of economic recovery have started to appear.
10
an occasion when photographers take a series of photographs, usually of the same person or people in the same place:

Examples:

do a fashion shoot We did a fashion shoot on the beach, with the girls modelling swimwear.
11
an occasion on which a group of people go to an area of the countryside to shoot animals
12
used to tell someone that they should speak:

Examples:

"Dad, I need to talk to you." "Shoot."
13
to fire a gun or other weapon, or to hit, injure, or kill someone or something by firing a gun or other weapon:

Examples:

[ I ] We’d take our bows and arrows and shoot at targets.
[ T ] A long time ago the sergeant learned how to shoot a gun.
[ T ] An unidentified man was shot yesterday afternoon.
14
infml If you say that someone or something should be shot, you are very annoyed by it:

Examples:

[ T ] This computer should be shot.
15
to throw, hit, or kick a ball or other object toward a goal in order to score points:

Examples:

[ T ] Both teams shoot the ball well.
[ I ] When you shoot as poorly as we did, you can’t expect to win.
16
If you shoot baskets or shoot hoops you play basketball.
17
If you shoot pool you play that game:

Examples:

Patrick and I were shooting pool after work.
18
to move in a particular direction quickly and without unnecessary turns or stops:

Examples:

The ambulance was shooting around the corner, its tires squealing.
Grace’s eyebrows shot up when she heard his voice.
19
to film or photograph something:

Examples:

[ T ] The movie will be shot in the fall.
20
the first part of a plant to appear above the ground as it develops from a seed, or a new growth on an already existing plant:

Examples:

Little green shoots appeared in the spring.
21
the act of taking a series of photographs or of filming a movie:

Examples:

I remember doing a shoot there.
22
used to tell someone else they should speak:

Examples:

"Dad, I need to talk to you." "Shoot."

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