noun

shot

A single discharge directed at a target.

She fires one shot at the target and lowers her rifle.

Etymology

The noun belongs to shoot's historical family. It names a single instance of firing and the discharge directed toward a target.

More examples

  • His shot bounces off the rim.
  • I give the crossword another shot before checking the answers.
  • The nurse gives me a flu shot.
  • The shotgun shell contains small pellets of shot.

Forms

shot · shots

Similar words

discharge
Names the firing itself, without implying a particular target.
attempt
Covers any effort, not necessarily a single targeted action.
injection
Specifically means delivering medicine or another substance through a needle.