shot

¹

[ shot ]

noun

, plural shots shot.

1. a discharge of a firearm, bow, etc.
2. the range of or the distance traveled by a missile in its flight.
3. an aimed discharge of a missile.
4. an attempt to hit a target with a missile.
5. an act or instance of shooting a firearm, bow, etc.
6. a small ball or pellet of lead, a number of which are loaded in a cartridge and used for one charge of a shotgun.
7. such pellets collectively:

   a charge of shot.

8. a projectile for discharge from a firearm or cannon.
9. such projectiles collectively:

   shot and shell.

10. a person who shoots; marksman:

    He was a good shot.

11. Slang. a blow; punch:

    The prizefighter was knocked out by a shot in the chin.

12. anything like a shot, especially in being sudden and forceful.
13. a heavy metal ball that competitors cast as far as possible in shot-putting contests.
14. an aimed stroke, throw, or the like, as in certain games, especially in an attempt to score.
15. an attempt or try:

    He's entitled to a shot at the championship.

    Synonyms: essay, go, chance

16. a remark aimed at some person or thing.
17. a guess at something.
18. a hypodermic injection, as of a serum, vaccine, narcotic, or anaesthetic:

    He took a series of immunizing shots for hay fever.

19. a small quantity, especially an ounce, of undiluted liquor.
20. an amount due, especially at a tavern.
21. Photography.
    1. a photograph, especially a snapshot: snapshot:

       Here's a nice shot of my kids.

    2. the act of making a photograph, especially a snapshot.
22. Movies, Television. a unit of action photographed without interruption and constituting a single camera view.
23. an explosive charge in place for detonation, as in mining or quarrying.
24. Metallurgy. comparatively hard globules of metal in the body of a casting.
25. Nautical. a 90-foot (27-meter) length of anchor cable or chain.
26. Checkers. a compulsory series of exchanges, especially when it proves favorable to the aggressor.
27. Textiles.
    1. a pick sent through the shed in a single throw of the shuttle.
    2. (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.

    3. a defect in a fabric caused by an unusual color or size in the yarn.
28. a chance with odds for and against; a bet:

    a 20 to 1 shot that his horse will come in first.

verb (used with object)

, shot·ted, shot·ting.

1. to load or supply with shot.
2. to weight with shot.

verb (used without object)

, shot·ted, shot·ting.

1. to manufacture shot, as in a shot tower.

shot

²

[ shot ]

verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of shoot ¹.

adjective

1. woven so as to present a play of colors; having a changeable color; variegated, as silk.
2. spread or streaked with color:

   the dawn sky shot with gold.

3. in hopelessly bad condition; ruined:

   Those sneakers are really shot. His morale is shot.

4. Slang. intoxicated.

shot

¹

/ ʃɒt /

verb

1. the past tense and past participle of shoot

adjective

1. (of textiles) woven to give a changing colour effect

   shot silk

2. streaked with colour
3. slang.
   exhausted
4. get shot of or get shut of slang.
   to get rid of

shot

²

/ ʃɒt /

noun

1. the act or an instance of discharging a projectile
2. shot a solid missile, such as an iron ball or a lead pellet, discharged from a firearm
3. 1. small round pellets of lead collectively, as used in cartridges
   2. metal in the form of coarse powder or small pellets
4. the distance that a discharged projectile travels or is capable of travelling
5. a person who shoots, esp with regard to his ability

   he is a good shot

6. informal.
   an attempt; effort
7. informal.
   a guess or conjecture
8. any act of throwing or hitting something, as in certain sports
9. the launching of a rocket, missile, etc, esp to a specified destination

   a moon shot

10. 1. a single photograph

       I took 16 shots of the wedding

    2. a series of frames on cine film concerned with a single event
    3. a length of film taken by a single camera without breaks, used with others to build up a full motion picture or television film
11. informal.
    an injection, as of a vaccine or narcotic drug
12. informal.
    a glass of alcoholic drink, esp spirits
13. sport a heavy metal ball used in the shot put
14. an explosive charge used in blasting
15. globules of metal occurring in the body of a casting that are harder than the rest of the casting
16. a unit of chain length equal to 75 feet (Brit) or 90 feet (US)
17. call the shots slang.
    to have control over an organization, course of action, etc
18. have a shot at informal.
    1. to attempt
    2. to jibe at or vex
19. like a shot
    very quickly, esp willingly
20. shot in the arm informal.
    anything that regenerates, increases confidence or efficiency, etc

    his arrival was a shot in the arm for the company

21. shot in the dark
    a wild guess
22. that's the shot informal.
    that is the right thing to do

verb

1. tr to weight or load with shot

Other Words From

• shotless adjective
• shotlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shot¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sc(e)ot, (ge)sceot; cognate with German Schoss, Geschoss; akin to shoot ¹( def )

Origin of shot²

First recorded in 1830–40, for the adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shot¹

Old English scot; related to Old Norse skot, Old High German scoz missile; see shoot

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. call one's shots, Informal. to indicate beforehand what one intends to do and how one intends to do it.
2. call the shots, Informal. to have the power or authority to make decisions or control policy:

   Now that he's chairman of the board, he calls the shots.

3. have / take a shot at, make an attempt at:

   I'll have a shot at solving the problem.

4. like a shot, instantly; quickly:

   He bolted out of here like a shot.

5. shot in the arm, Informal. 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.

6. shot in the dark, Informal. a wild guess; a random conjecture.
7. by a long shot. long shot ( def 4 ).

More idioms and phrases containing shot

• big cheese (shot)
• call the shots
• cheap shot
• give it one's best shot
• have a crack (shot) at
• like a shot
• long shot
• parting shot
• shoot

Example Sentences

On the other, no one inside the Lakers locker room would dare compare the two, the first definitely still a novelty the Lakers would’ve happily traded, prize money and all, for even a long shot chance to win the big title in the spring.

From Los Angeles Times

Acosta shot 28-year-old Arthur “Billy” Boucher, a family friend who was asleep on a sofa in the living room.

From Los Angeles Times

Acosta then walked into the master bedroom and shot Goodwill-Yost.

From Los Angeles Times

Yost tried to escape to the house patio, but was shot in the head.

From Los Angeles Times

“Two little girls, 6 and 9, went to sleep not knowing the last time they would see their parents would be when they woke up to find them shot to death,” said Todd Spitzer, Orange County district attorney.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• attempt
• break
• opportunity
• time