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shot 1 (shŏt)
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n.
1. The firing or discharge of a weapon, such as a gun.
2. The distance over which something is shot; the range.
3.
a. An attempt to hit a target with a projectile: His shot at the bear missed by inches.
b. An attempt to reach a target with a rocket: a moon shot.
4. Sports & Games
a. An attempt to score into a goal, as in soccer or hockey.
b. The flight or path of a projectile in a game.
c. A sharply hit or driven ball or puck.
d. A stroke in a game, as in golf or billiards: took three shots to get out of the sand trap.
5. A pointed or critical remark.
6. Informal
a. An attempt; a try: took a shot at losing weight.
b. An opportunity: gave him a fair shot at the part in the play.
c. A chance at odds; something to bet on: The horse was a four-to-one shot.
7.
a. A solid projectile designed to be discharged from a firearm or cannon.
b. pl. shot Such projectiles, especially when fired in clusters, considered as a group.
c. pl. shot Tiny lead or steel pellets, especially ones used in a shotgun cartridge.
d. One of these pellets.
8. Sports The heavy metal ball that is put for distance in the shot put.
9. One who shoots in a particular way: a good shot with the rifle and the bow.
10.
a. A charge of explosives used in blasting mine shafts.
b. A detonation of an explosive charge.
11.
a. A photograph taken of a particular subject: got a good shot of that last model.
b. A single continuous recording made with a movie camera.
12.
a. A hypodermic injection.
b. A small amount given or applied at one time: a shot of oxygen.
13.
a. A small amount of liquor, usually between 1 and 1 ½ ounces: got out the vodka and measured two shots into the glass.
b. A small drink: sipped a shot of bourbon; drank a shot of espresso.
c. A small amount of a liquid used as an ingredient in a beverage: prepared a smoothie with a shot of wheatgrass.
14. An amount to be paid, as for drinks; a bill.
15. Nautical A length of chain equal to 15 fathoms (90 feet).
tr.v. shot·ted, shot·ting, shots
To load or weight with shot.
Idioms:
like a shot
Very quickly.
shot in the arm Informal
Something that boosts one's spirits.
shot in the dark Informal
1. A guess.
2. An attempt that has little chance of succeeding.

[Middle English, from Old English sceot, scot; see skeud- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
shot 2 (shŏt)
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v.
Past tense and past participle of shoot.
adj.
1.
a. Of changeable or variegated color; iridescent.
b. Streaked or flecked with or as if with yarn of a different color: a blue suit shot with purple; a forest glade that was shot with sunlight.
c. Interspersed or permeated with a distinctive quality: Her apology was shot with irony.
2. Informal
a. Worn-out; ruined.
b. Exhausted; thoroughly tired.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.