aim

aim¹ W2S2 [eım] n

1.)

something you hope to achieve by doing something

aim of

▪ The aim of the research is to find new food sources.

▪ The main aim of the course is to improve your writing.

with the aim of doing sth

▪ a campaign with the aim of helping victims of crime

▪ Teamwork is required in order to achieve these aims.

▪ a policy which sets out the school's aims and objectives

2.) take aim

to point a gun or weapon at someone or something you want to shoot

take aim at

▪ Alan took aim at the target.

3.) take aim at sb/sth

AmE to criticize someone or something

▪ Critics took aim at both the Senator and the President.

4.) [U]

someone's ability to hit what they are aiming at when they throw or shoot something

▪ Val's aim was very good.

aim ²

aim² W2S2 v

[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: aesmer, from Latin aestimare; ESTIMATE²]

1.) [I]

to try or intend to achieve something

aim to do sth

▪ We aim to finish by Friday.

(be) aimed at doing sth

▪ an initiative aimed at reducing road accidents

aim for

▪ We're aiming for a big improvement.

2.) aim sth at sb

to say or do something that is intended for a particular person or group of people

▪ a program that's aimed at teenagers

▪ The criticism wasn't aimed at you.

↑arrow, ↑bow

3.) [I and T]

to choose the place, person etc that you want to hit or reach and point a weapon or another object towards them

▪ Denver aimed his gun but did not shoot.

aim at/for

▪ The pilot was aiming for the runway but came down in a nearby field.