shoot

shoot ► VERB (past and past part. shot) 1) kill or wound (a person or animal) with a bullet or arrow. 2) cause (a gun) to fire. 3) move suddenly and rapidly. 4) direct (a glance, question, or remark) at someone. 5) film or photograph (a scene, film, etc.). 6) (shooting) (of a pain) sudden and piercing. 7) (of a boat) sweep swiftly down or under (rapids, a waterfall, or a bridge). 8) move (a door bolt) to fasten or unfasten a door. 9) send out buds or shoots; germinate. 10) informal drive past (a traffic light at red). 11) (in sport) kick, hit, or throw the ball or puck in an attempt to score a goal. 12) informal make (a specified score) for a round of golf.

► NOUN 1) a young branch or sucker springing from the main stock of a tree or other plant. 2) an occasion when a group of people hunt and shoot game for sport. 3) Brit. land used for shooting game. 4) an occasion of taking photographs professionally or making a film or video: a fashion shoot. 5) variant spelling of CHUTE(Cf. ↑chute).

► EXCLAMATION N. Amer. informal ▪ used as a euphemism for ‘shit’.

● shoot the breeze (or the bull) — Cf. ↑shoot the bull

● shoot one's cuffs — Cf. ↑shoot one's cuffs

● shoot down — Cf. ↑shoot down

● shoot oneself in the foot — Cf. ↑shoot oneself in the foot

● shoot a line — Cf. ↑shoot a line

● shoot one's mouth off — Cf. ↑shoot one's mouth off

● the whole shooting match — Cf. ↑the whole shooting match

● shoot through — Cf. ↑shoot through

● shoot up — Cf. ↑shoot up

ORIGIN Old English.