shot

Universal Words noun, adjective-see also SHOOT, SHOT, SHOTv. noun with gun 1 [C] ~ (at sb/sth) the act of firing a gun; the sound this makes: The man fired several shots from his pistol. * Someone took a shot at the car. * We heard some shots in the distance. seealsoGUNSHOT, POTSHOT 2 [C] a good, bad, etc. ~ a person who shoots a gun in a particular way (well, badly, etc.) bullets 3 (also lead shot) [U] a large number of small metal balls that you fire together from a SHOTGUN seealsoBUCKSHOT, GRAPESHOT 4 [C] (plural shot) a large stone or metal ball that was shot from a CANNON or large gun in the past remark / action 5 [C] a remark or an action that is usually one of a series, and is aimed against sb/sth that you are arguing or competing with: This statement was the opening shot in the argument. * The supermarket fired the first shot in a price war today. attempt 6 [C,usually sing.] ~ (at sth / at doing sth) (informal) the act of trying to do or achieve sth: The team are looking good for a shot at the title. * I've never produced a play before but I'll have a shot at it. * I'm willing to give it a shot. * Just give it your best shot (= try as hard as you can) and you'll be fine. in sport 7 [C] the action of hitting, kicking or throwing the ball in order to score a point or goal in a game: Taylor scored with a low shot into the corner of the net. * Good shot! 8 (often the shot) [sing.] the heavy ball that is used in the sports competition called THESHOT-PUT photograph 9 [C] a photograph: I got some good shots of people at the party. seealsoMUGSHOT, SNAPSHOT scene in film / movie 10 [C] a scene in a film/movie that is filmed continuously by one camera: the opening shot of a character walking across a desert drug 11 [C] (informal, especially AmE) a small amount of a drug that is put into your body using a SYRINGE SYNINJECTION: a flu shot (= to protect you against flu) * a shot of morphine drink 12 [C] (informal) a small amount of a drink, especially a strong alcoholic one: a shot of whisky of spacecraft 13 [C] an occasion when a spacecraft is sent into space: The space shot was shown live on television. horse / dog in race 14 [sing.] (used with numbers) a horse, dog, etc. that has the particular chance of winning a race that is mentioned: The horse is a 101 shot. HELPNOTE You will find other compounds ending in shot at their place in the alphabet. IDIOMS like a shot (informal) very quickly and without hesitating: If I had the chance to go there, I'd go like a shot. a shot across the / sb's bows something that you say or do as a warning to sb about what might happen if they do not change, etc. a shot in the arm something that gives sb/sth the help or encouragement they need moreatBIGadj., CALLv., DARKn., LONGadj., PARTINGadj. adjective 1 ~ (with sth) (of fabric, hair, etc.) having another colour showing through or mixed with the main colour: shot silk * black hair shot with grey * a cloudy sky shot with streaks of sunlight 2 [notbeforenoun] (informal) in a very bad condition; destroyed: The brakes on this car are shot. * I'm shot-I'm too old for this job. * After the accident his nerves were shot to pieces. IDIOMS be / get shot of sb/sth (BrE, informal) to get rid of sb/sth so you no longer have the problems they cause: By the end of the week I just couldn't wait to get shot of them. shot through with sth containing a lot of a particular colour, quality or feature: a voice shot through with emotion