AIM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does aim mean? 

• AIM (noun)
  The noun AIM has 4 senses:

1. an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

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

3. the action of directing something at an object

4. the direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies

  Familiarity information: AIM used as a noun is uncommon.

• AIM (verb)
  The verb AIM has 7 senses:

1. point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards

2. propose or intend

3. move into a desired direction of discourse

4. specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public

5. intend (something) to move towards a certain goal

6. direct (a remark) toward an intended goal

7. have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal

  Familiarity information: AIM used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AIM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

aim; design; intent; intention; purpose

Context example:

he made no secret of his designs

Hypernyms ("aim" 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 "aim"):

idea; mind (your intention; what you intend to do)

cross-purpose (a contrary aim)

final cause ((philosophy) the end or purpose of a thing or process)

sake (the purpose of achieving or obtaining)

view (purpose; the phrase 'with a view to' means 'with the intention of' or 'for the purpose of')

will (a fixed and persistent intent or purpose)

Derivation:

aim (propose or intend)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

aim; object; objective; target

Context example:

the sole object of her trip was to see her children

Hypernyms ("aim" 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 "aim"):

business (an immediate objective)

point (the object of an activity)

thing (a special objective)

grail (the object of any prolonged endeavor)

Derivation:

aim (propose or intend)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The action of directing something at an object

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

he took aim and fired

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

direction; guidance; steering (the act of setting and holding a course)

Derivation:

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

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

Sense 4

Meaning:

The direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

aim; bearing; heading

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

direction; way (a line leading to a place or point)

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

tack (the heading or position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails)

• AIM (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they aim    ... he / she / it aims   
Past simple: aimed   
Past participle: aimed   
-ing form: aiming   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

aim; direct; take; take aim; train

Context example:

Take a swipe at one's opponent

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

position (cause to be in an appropriate place, state, or relation)

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

aim; direct; place; point; target (intend (something) to move towards a certain goal)

draw a bead on (aim with a gun)

hold (aim, point, or direct)

turn (direct at someone)

swing (hit or aim at with a sweeping arm movement)

charge; level; point (direct into a position for use)

level (aim at)

sight (take aim by looking through the sights of a gun (or other device))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

aim (the action of directing something at an object)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Propose or intend

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

aim; propose; purport; purpose

Context example:

I aim to arrive at noon

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

intend; mean; think (have in mind as a purpose)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

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

aim (an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Move into a desired direction of discourse

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

aim; drive; get

Context example:

What are you driving at?

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

intend; mean (mean or intend to express or convey)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 4

Meaning:

Specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

aim; calculate; direct

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

designate; destine; intend; specify (design or destine)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Intend (something) to move towards a certain goal

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

aim; direct; place; point; target

Context example:

direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself

Hypernyms (to "aim" 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 "aim"):

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
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

aim (the action of directing something at an object)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Direct (a remark) toward an intended goal

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

She wanted to aim a pun

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

intend; mean (mean or intend to express or convey)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 7

Meaning:

Have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

aim; aspire; draw a bead on; shoot for

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

be after; plan (have the will and intention to carry out some action)

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

overshoot (aim too high)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They aim to move

 Context examples 

Prevention and intervention efforts are biologic activities aimed at the cell - at the genetic and cellular changes that result in the transformation process and that define cancer development

(Cancer Prevention, Primary, NCI Thesaurus)

Psychology services that aim to reach individuals through community programs.

(Community Psychology, NCI Thesaurus)

These studies are aimed at identifying susceptibility genes for breast cancer and their associated molecular and genetic aberrations, as well as the functions of their encoded proteins.

(Breast Cancer Genetics, NCI Thesaurus)

The Branch plans and conducts intramural research aimed at identifying new tools for the early detection of cancers and developing cancer intervention agents.

(Biomarkers and Prevention Research Branch, NCI Thesaurus)

Studies that develop and test specific interventions aimed at changing negative health behaviors.

(Behavioral Mechanisms, NCI Thesaurus)

Studies of the links between biology and behavior aimed at identifying preexisting vulnerabilities to tobacco use and addiction.

(Biobehavioral Determinants of Tobacco Use and Addiction, NCI Thesaurus)

Membrane cofactor protein (MCP) is one critical regulator aimed at controlling inadvertent complement activation on host cells and nearly every cell examined expresses MCP on its cell membrane.

(Complement Component Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

It aims to establish the state-of-the-art in microarray data mining, as well as identify progress and highlight the direction for future effort.

(Critical Assessment of Microarray Data Analysis, NCI Thesaurus)

The act of carrying out some order or instruction to accomplish an aim.

(Execution, NCI Thesaurus)

A type of radiation therapy that uses a machine to aim high-energy rays at the cancer from outside of the body.

(External Beam Radiation Therapy, NCI Dictionary)