Target | Mean of target in English Dictionary

/ˈtɑɚgət/

• Noun
• something that you are trying to do or achieve
1. We failed to meet/reach this month's sales targets. [=goals]
2. Our target amount for the fund-raiser is $2,500.
3. They set a target date of May 31.
• a place, thing, or person at which an attack is aimed
1. Planes struck at key military targets.
2. He was a favorite target of the media. [=the media often attacked/criticized him]
3. Her policies have been a target for/of criticism. [=criticism has been aimed/directed at her policies]
4. Tourists are often easy targets for thieves.
5. The bullet found its target. [=the bullet hit the target it was aimed at]
6. Men in this age group are prime targets for heart disease. [=are more likely than most other people to be affected by heart disease]
• the person or group that someone is trying to influence, sell something to, etc.
1. Their target audience/market is teenagers.

• something (such as a round board with circles on it) that you try to hit with arrows, bullets, etc.
1. I aimed at the target and fired.
2. a moving target
3. target shooting/practice
• not correct or accurate
1. Her accusations are way off target.
• not likely to reach a goal
1. We are off target in terms of sales this quarter.
• correct or accurate
1. His predictions are always on target.
• likely to reach a goal
1. We are on target to meet this month's sales goals.
• Verb
• to aim an attack at someone or something
1. The missile attacks targeted [=were aimed at] major cities. = The missiles were targeted [=aimed] at major cities.
2. Thieves often target tourists.
3. drugs that target cancer cells
4. He has frequently been targeted by the media. [=he has been the target of frequent attacks by the media]
• to direct an action, message, etc., at someone or something
1. The commercial is targeted [=aimed] at children.
2. government programs that are targeted at low-income areas = government programs that target low-income areas