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targetan object, person, or place selected as the aim of an attack

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: an object, person, or place selected as the aim of an attack

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈtɑːrɡɪt/

Example Sentences

  • My mom's diet target is to lose 5kg, but her real target seems to be the chocolate in the fridge.
  • The company failed to meet its quarterly target.
  • Politicians often target social media to reach younger voters.

target

NOUN

[/ˈtɑːrɡɪt/]

an object, person, or place selected as the aim of an attack

The archer carefully aimed at the target before shooting.
💡 Concept

The archer carefully aimed at the target before shooting.

The company targeted younger customers with its new product. (AIM + GOAL = TARGET)
🧠 Mnemonic

The company targeted younger customers with its new product. (AIM + GOAL = TARGET)

They identified the target market and worked hard to achieve it.
🎵 Rhyme

They identified the target market and worked hard to achieve it.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈtɑːrɡɪt/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈtɑːɡɪt/

🌳Etymology

Roottarget

Origin

The word derives from Old French 'targette', meaning a small shield. The circular marking at the center of a shield evolved into the archery sense, as archers used these circular shield ornaments as practice targets, eventually generalizing to mean any goal or objective.

Breakdown

Old French targette (small shield, diminutive of targe) → target. The semantic shift from the physical shield marking to abstract goal reflects the metaphorical application of archery practice targets.

🎵Rhyme

marketcarpet
market
carpet

🔗Collocations

target audience
hit the target
sales target
target practice
moving target
target market
easy target

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My mom's diet target is to lose 5kg, but her real target seems to be the chocolate in the fridge.

The company failed to meet its quarterly target.

Politicians often target social media to reach younger voters.

😄 Fun example

My New Year's target was to exercise daily, but I've successfully targeted the couch instead.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

goalobjectiveaimpurposemark

Antonyms

avoidignoremiss

Related

arrowbullseyeshootfocusachieve

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