(shots)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Shot is the past tense and past participle of
shoot.
2.
A shot is an act of firing a gun.
He had murdered Perceval at point blank range with a single shot...
A man fired a volley of shots at them.
N-COUNT
3.
Someone who is a good shot can shoot well. Someone who is a bad shot cannot shoot well.
He was not a particularly good shot because of his eyesight.
N-COUNT: adj N
4.
In sports such as football, golf, or tennis, a shot is an act of kicking, hitting, or throwing the ball, especially in an attempt to score a point.
He had only one shot at goal.
N-COUNT
5.
A shot is a photograph or a particular sequence of pictures in a film.
...a shot of a fox peering from the bushes...
N-COUNT
6.
If you have a shot at something, you attempt to do it. (INFORMAL)
The heavyweight champion will be given a shot at Holyfield's world title.
N-COUNT: usu sing, usu N at n
7.
A shot of a drug is an injection of it.
He administered a shot of Nembutal.
N-COUNT: usu N of n
8.
A shot of a strong alcoholic drink is a small glass of it. (AM)
...a shot of vodka.
N-COUNT
9.
If you give something your best shot, you do it as well as you possibly can. (INFORMAL)
I don't expect to win. But I am going to give it my best shot.
PHRASE: V inflects
10.
The person who calls the shots is in a position to tell others what to do.
The directors call the shots and nothing happens without their say-so.
PHRASE: V inflects
11.
If you do something like a shot, you do it without any delay or hesitation. (INFORMAL)
I heard the key turn in the front door and I was out of bed like a shot...
PHRASE: PHR after v
12.
If you describe something as a long shot, you mean that it is unlikely to succeed, but is worth trying.
The deal was a long shot, but Bagley had little to lose...
PHRASE: v-link PHR
13.
People sometimes use the expression by a long shot to emphasize the opinion they are giving.
The missile-reduction treaty makes sweeping cuts, but the arms race isn't over by a long shot.
PHRASE [emphasis]
14.
If something is shot through with an element or feature, it contains a lot of that element or feature.
This is an argument shot through with inconsistency.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n
15.
a shot in the dark: see
dark