Library / English Dictionary

AIM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The action of directing something at an object

Example:

he took aim and fired

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("aim" is a kind of...):

direction; guidance; steering (the act of setting and holding a course)

Derivation:

aim (intend (something) to move towards a certain goal)

aim (point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable)

Example:

the sole object of her trip was to see her children

Synonyms:

aim; object; objective; target

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("aim" is a kind of...):

end; goal (the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "aim"):

grail (the object of any prolonged endeavor)

business (an immediate objective)

point (the object of an activity)

thing (a special objective)

Derivation:

aim (propose or intend)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

Example:

he made no secret of his designs

Synonyms:

aim; design; intent; intention; purpose

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("aim" is a kind of...):

end; goal (the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "aim"):

idea; mind (your intention; what you intend to do)

cross-purpose (a contrary aim)

final cause ((philosophy) the end or purpose of a thing or process)

sake (the purpose of achieving or obtaining)

view (purpose; the phrase 'with a view to' means 'with the intention of' or 'for the purpose of')

will (a fixed and persistent intent or purpose)

Derivation:

aim (propose or intend)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies

Synonyms:

aim; bearing; heading

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Hypernyms ("aim" is a kind of...):

direction; way (a line leading to a place or point)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "aim"):

tack (the heading or position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal

Synonyms:

aim; aspire; draw a bead on; shoot for

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "aim" is one way to...):

be after; plan (have the will and intention to carry out some action)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "aim"):

overshoot (aim too high)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They aim to move

Sense 2

Meaning:

Propose or intend

Example:

I aim to arrive at noon

Synonyms:

aim; propose; purport; purpose

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "aim" is one way to...):

intend; mean; think (have in mind as a purpose)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

aim (the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable))

aim (an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public

Synonyms:

aim; calculate; direct

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "aim" is one way to...):

designate; destine; intend; specify (design or destine)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Direct (a remark) toward an intended goal

Example:

She wanted to aim a pun

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "aim" is one way to...):

intend; mean (mean or intend to express or convey)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Move into a desired direction of discourse

Example:

What are you driving at?

Synonyms:

aim; drive; get

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "aim" is one way to...):

intend; mean (mean or intend to express or convey)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 6

Meaning:

Intend (something) to move towards a certain goal

Example:

direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself

Synonyms:

aim; direct; place; point; target

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "aim" is one way to...):

aim; direct; take; take aim; train (point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "aim"):

address (direct a question at someone)

home in; range in; zero in (direct onto a point or target, especially by automatic navigational aids)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

aim (the action of directing something at an object)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards

Example:

Take a swipe at one's opponent

Synonyms:

aim; direct; take; take aim; train

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "aim" is one way to...):

position (cause to be in an appropriate place, state, or relation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "aim"):

aim; direct; place; point; target (intend (something) to move towards a certain goal)

draw a bead on (aim with a gun)

hold (aim, point, or direct)

turn (direct at someone)

swing (hit or aim at with a sweeping arm movement)

charge; level; point (direct into a position for use)

level (aim at)

sight (take aim by looking through the sights of a gun (or other device))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

aim (the action of directing something at an object)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The aim is to find the best fit between you and your job conditions.

(Ergonomics, NIH)

Drug therapy aimed at forcing cancer cells to resume the process of maturation and therefore to induce tumor to a more differentiated, less aggressive state.

(Differentiation Therapy, NCI Thesaurus)

A type of study protocol designed to evaluate intervention(s) aimed to cure a disease or condition.

(Cure Study, NCI Thesaurus)

A type of study designed to evaluate method(s) aimed at identifying a disease or condition.

(Diagnosis Study, NCI Thesaurus)

The procedure aims at the reduction of the stomach size and it is usually achieved either with the implantation of a medical device or the removal of part of the stomach.

(Bariatric Surgery, NCI Thesaurus)

Oriental medicine aims to restore the body's balance and harmony between the natural opposing forces of yin and yang, which can block qi and cause disease.

(Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, NCI Dictionary)

The Urban Environment and Childhood Asthma study aims to identify factors that contribute to asthma development in children from inner city settings, where allergies and asthma are more common and severe.

(Infant Exposure to Allergens May Help Prevent Wheezing, NIH)

The aim is to be able to use them to develop drugs, nutraceuticals and/or functional foods.

(Scientists identify bioactive compounds in cacao pods to develop drugs to combat skeletal disorders, University of Granada)

The aim is to create better infrastructures for citizens—from public transport to energy savings, sustainability, and overall efficiency.

(Scientists design “smart” asphalts with magnetic materials for safer electric scooters, University of Granada)

The aim is to eventually build more powerful laser beams that could push debris into the Earth’s atmosphere, where it would burn up.

(Australia Developing Lasers to Track, Destroy Space Junk, VOA)