AIM

UK: /ˈeɪm/ US: /eɪm/ ,(ām)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

AIM abbreviation

1. (in Britain) Alternative Investment Market

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

aim /eɪm/   v. 

1. to point (a firearm, ball, etc.) so that the thing discharged or thrown will hit a target: [~ + object]
   The police officer aimed the pistol and fired.
   [no object]
   He turned, aimed, and fired all in one motion.
   [~ + at + object]
   She aimed at the target.
   [~ + object + at + object]
   She aimed a kick at him.
2. to direct toward a particular goal:
   [~ + object + at + object] The lawyer aimed his remarks at the jury.
3. to strive;
   try: [~ + at + verb-ing]
   We aim at pleasing everyone.
   [~ + to + verb]
   We aim to please.
4. [~ + to + verb] to intend:
   She aims to go tomorrow.

n. 

5. the act of directing anything at or toward a target:
   [uncountable] How good is your aim?
6. the direction in which a weapon or missile is pointed:
   [uncountable] His aim was a little off.
7. [uncountable] the point to be hit:
   to miss one's aim.
8. purpose;
   intention:
   [countable] It is my aim to reform the program.

Idioms

9. Idioms take aim (at), [take + ~ (+ at + object)] to point a weapon or one's efforts at:
   took aim at the target; took aim at reforming the bureaucrats.

aim•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

aim  (ām), v.t. 

1. to position or direct (a firearm, ball, arrow, rocket, etc.) so that, on firing or release, the discharged projectile will hit a target or travel along a certain path.
2. to intend or direct for a particular effect or purpose:
   to aim a satire at snobbery.

v.i. 

3. to point or direct a gun, punch, etc., toward:
   He aimed at the target but missed it.
4. to strive;
   try (usually fol. by to or at):
   We aim to please. They aim at saving something every month.
5. to intend:
   She aims to go tomorrow.
6. to direct efforts, as toward an object:
   The satire aimed at modern greed.
7. [Obs.] to estimate;
   guess.

n. 

8. the act of aiming or directing anything at or toward a particular point or target.
9. the direction in which a weapon or missile is pointed;
   the line of sighting:
   within the cannon's aim.
10. the point intended to be hit;
    thing or person aimed at:
    to miss one's aim.
11. something intended or desired to be attained by one's efforts;
    purpose:
    whatever his aim in life may be.
12. [Obs.] conjecture;
    guess.
13. take aim, to sight a target:
    to take aim and fire.

• Latin aestimāre
• Old French (dialect, dialectal) amer
• Vulgar Latin *adaestimāre, equivalent. to Latin ad- ad- + aestimāre (see estimate); replacing Middle English amen
• Anglo-French a(e)smer, eimer, Old French aesmer
• late Middle English aimen 1275–1325

aim′er, n. 
aim′ful, adj. 
aim′ful•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. point.
• 8. sighting.
• 10. target, objective.
• 11. goal; intent, design.
  Aim, end, object all imply something that is the goal of one's efforts.
  Aim implies that toward which one makes a direct line, refusing to be diverted from it:
  a nobleness of aim; one's aim in life.
  End emphasizes the goal as a cause of efforts:
  the end for which one strives.
  Object emphasizes the goal as that toward which all efforts are directed:
  the object of years of study.

AIM  (ām), n. 

1. American Indian Movement.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

aim / eɪm/ verb

1. to point (a weapon, missile, etc) or direct (a blow) at a particular person or object; level
2. (transitive) to direct (satire, criticism, etc) at a person, object, etc
3. (intr; followed by at or an infinitive) to propose or intend
4. (intr; often followed by at or for) to direct one's efforts or strive (towards)

noun

1. the action of directing something at an object
2. the direction in which something is pointed; line of sighting (esp in the phrase to take aim)
3. the object at which something is aimed; target
4. intention; purpose

Etymology: 14th Century: via Old French aesmer from Latin aestimāre to estimate