Definition of: aim

(ām) v.t.
1. To direct, as a missile, blow, weapon, word, or act, toward or against some thing or person; point or level: to aim a gun at someone; to aim a speech at an offender.
—v.i.
2. To have a purpose; endeavor earnestly: with the infinitive: to aim to please.
3. To direct a missile, weapon, etc.: We aimed and fired.
— noun
1. The act of aiming, directing, or pointing a weapon, missile, remark, etc., at anything.
2. The line of direction of anything aimed.
3. The object or point aimed at or to be aimed at; a mark or target.
4. Design; purpose.
5. Conjecture; guess. [<OF aesmer <a- to (<L ad-) + esmer <L aestimare estimate] Synonyms (noun): aspiration, design, determination, direction, end, endeavor, goal, inclination, intent, intention, mark, object, purpose, reason, tendency.
The aim is the direction in which one shoots, or that which is aimed at. The mark is that at which one shoots; the goal, that toward which one moves or works. All indicate the direction of endeavor. The end is the point at which people expect or hope to close their labors; the object, that which they would grasp as the reward. Aspiration, design, endeavor, purpose, referring to the mental acts by which the aim is attained, are often used as interchangeable with aim. Compare AMBITION, DESIGN, DIRECTION, PURPOSE. Antonyms: aimlessness, avoidance, carelessness, heedlessness, neglect, negligence, oversight, purposelessness, thoughtlessness.