aim

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To plan or intend to do something.

   We aim to arrive at noon.

2. 2
   verb

   To point a weapon or object toward something you want to hit.

   Please don't aim the gun at your little brother!

3. 3
   verb

   To design something for a particular group of people.

   This campaign is aimed at families looking for an affordable car.

4. 4
   noun

   A purpose or goal you want to achieve.

   Her main aim is to become a doctor.

5. 5
   noun

   The act of pointing a weapon at a target.

   He took aim and fired.

The verb is from Middle English amen, aimen, eimen (“to guess at, to estimate, to aim”), borrowed from Old French esmer, aesmer, asmer, from Latin ad- plus aestimare (“to estimate”), the compound perhaps being originally formed in Medieval Latin (adaestimare), perhaps in Old French. The noun is from Middle English ame, from Old French aesme, esme.

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