Library / English Dictionary

TARGET

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Sports equipment consisting of an object set up for a marksman or archer to aim at

Synonyms:

butt; target

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("target" is a kind of...):

sports equipment (equipment needed to participate in a particular sport)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "target"):

clay pigeon (target used in skeet or trapshooting)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable)

Example:

the sole object of her trip was to see her children

Synonyms:

aim; object; objective; target

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("target" is a kind of...):

end; goal (the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "target"):

grail (the object of any prolonged endeavor)

business (an immediate objective)

point (the object of an activity)

thing (a special objective)

Derivation:

target (intend (something) to move towards a certain goal)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A reference point to shoot at

Example:

his arrow hit the mark

Synonyms:

mark; target

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("target" is a kind of...):

point of reference; reference; reference point (an indicator that orients you generally)

Meronyms (parts of "target"):

bull; bull's eye (the center of a target)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "target"):

clout (a target used in archery)

drogue (a funnel-shaped device towed as a target by an airplane)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The location of the target that is to be hit

Synonyms:

target; target area

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Hypernyms ("target" is a kind of...):

place; spot; topographic point (a point located with respect to surface features of some region)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "target"):

ground zero (the target of a projectile (as a bomb or missile))

Sense 5

Meaning:

A person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence

Example:

the target of a manhunt

Synonyms:

fair game; prey; quarry; target

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("target" is a kind of...):

victim (an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance)

Derivation:

target (intend (something) to move towards a certain goal)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Intend (something) to move towards a certain goal

Example:

direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself

Synonyms:

aim; direct; place; point; target

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "target" is one way to...):

aim; direct; take; take aim; train (point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "target"):

address (direct a question at someone)

home in; range in; zero in (direct onto a point or target, especially by automatic navigational aids)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

target (the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable))

target (a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence)

Credits

 Context examples: 

By targeting AKT, the key node in the PIK3/AKT signaling network, this agent may be used as monotherapy or combination therapy for a variety of human cancers.

(Akt inhibitor AZD5363, NCI Thesaurus)

Inactivating mutations of APC cause accumulation of beta-Catenin, which binds TCF4 and increases transcription of target genes (e.g., c-MYC) and binds GSK3-beta in the WNT signaling pathway.

(Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

An assay based on Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity, which involves the killing of a target cell by a killer cell.

(ADCC Assay, NCI Thesaurus)

Agatolimod selectively targets Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), thereby activating dendritic and B cells and stimulating cytotoxic T cell and antibody responses against tumor cells bearing tumor antigens.

(Agatolimod Sodium, NCI Thesaurus)

Adjuvant therapy may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or biological therapy.

(Adjuvant therapy, NCI Dictionary)

This agent specifically targets IL13 receptor alpha2, a glioma-restricted cell-surface epitope; the CTLs exert their cytolytic effect thereby killing IL13Ra2-expressing glioma cells.

(Allogeneic IL13-Zetakine/HyTK-Expressing-Glucocorticoid Resistant Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes GRm13Z40-2, NCI Thesaurus)

It is being investigated for use in targeting tumors for death by a suicide mechanism.

(Adenovirus Death Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

Buck, because of his record, was the target for these men, and Thornton was driven stoutly to defend him.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

A small, cyclic pentapeptide vascular-targeting agent with potential antineoplastic and antiangiogenic activities.

(ADH-1, NCI Thesaurus)

A gene-viral vector complex comprised of an adenovirus vector and B7-1 gene targeting the CD80 antigen.

(Adenovirus B7-1, NCI Thesaurus)