shoot

[[t]ʃu͟ːt[/t]]

♦♦

shoots, shooting, shot

1) VERB If someone shoots a person or an animal, they kill them or injure them by firing a bullet or arrow at them.

[V n] The police had orders to shoot anyone who attacked them...

[V n] Namibian law permits ranchers to shoot cheetahs to protect their livestock...

[V n with adj] Gunmen shot dead the brother of the minister...

[V n with adj] The man was shot dead by the police during a raid on his house...

[V n in n] Her father shot himself in the head with a shotgun.

2) VERB To shoot means to fire a bullet from a weapon such as a gun.

He taunted armed officers by pointing to his head, as if inviting them to shoot...

[V at n] The police came around the corner and they started shooting at us...

[V adv/prep] She had never been able to shoot straight...

[V adv/prep] Troops began shooting in all directions.

3) VERB If someone or something shoots in a particular direction, they move in that direction quickly and suddenly.

[V adv/prep] They had almost reached the boat when a figure shot past them...

[V adv/prep] Another car shot out of a junction and smashed into the back of them.

4) V-ERG If you shoot something somewhere or if it shoots somewhere, it moves there quickly and suddenly.

[V n prep/adv] Masters shot a hand across the table and gripped his wrist...

[V adv/prep] As soon as she got close, the old woman's hand shot out...

[V adv/prep] You'd turn on the water, and it would shoot straight up in the air.

5) VERB If you shoot a look at someone, you look at them quickly and briefly, often in a way that expresses your feelings.

[V n n] Mary Ann shot him a rueful look...

[V n at n] The man in the black overcoat shot a penetrating look at the other man.

6) VERB If someone shoots to fame, they become famous or successful very quickly.

[V to n] Alina Reyes shot to fame a few years ago with her extraordinary first novel...

[V to n] She shot to stardom on Broadway in a Noel Coward play.

7) VERB When people shoot a film or shoot photographs, they make a film or take photographs using a camera.

[V n] He'd love to shoot his film in Cuba...

[V n] Three CBS cameramen were on site to shoot and edit taped reports.

N-COUNT

Shoot is also a noun.

...a barn presently being used for a video shoot.

8) N-COUNT: usu pl Shoots are plants that are beginning to grow, or new parts growing from a plant or tree.

9) VERB In sports such as soccer or basketball, when someone shoots, they try to score by kicking, throwing, or hitting the ball towards the goal.

[V adv/prep] Spencer scuttled away from Young to shoot wide when he should have scored...

[V adv/prep] A time limit was set for a team to shoot at the basket. [Also V, V n]

10) VERB When someone shoots pool or shoots craps, they play a game of pool or the dice game called craps. [AM]

[V n] People are still hanging out drinking beer, maybe shooting some pool.

11) → See also , shot

12) PHR-RECIP: V inflects, PHR with n, pl-n V If you shoot the breeze or shoot the bull with someone, you talk to them about things which are not very serious or important. [mainly AM, INFORMAL]

They expected me to sit up and shoot the breeze with them till one or two in the morning...

I also met with Pollack again to kind of shoot the bull.

13) PHRASE: V inflects If you shoot yourself in the foot, something you say or do causes you harm.

If I was to insult the contestants I would be shooting myself in the foot.

14) to shoot from the hip → see hip

Phrasal Verbs:

- shoot down

- shoot up