Definition: aim

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

aim
     n 1: an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your
          planned actions; "his intent was to provide a new
          translation"; "good intentions are not enough"; "it was
          created with the conscious aim of answering immediate
          needs"; "he made no secret of his designs" [syn: purpose,
           intent, intention, design]
     2: the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to
        be attainable); "the sole object of her trip was to see
        her children" [syn: object, objective, target]
     3: the action of directing something at an object; "he took aim
        and fired"
     4: the direction or path along which something moves or along
        which it lies [syn: bearing, heading]
     v 1: aim or direct at; as of blows, weapons, or objects such as
          photographic equipment; "Please don't aim at your little
          brother!" "He trained his gun on the burglar"; "Don't
          train your camera on the women"; "Take a swipe at one's
          opponent" [syn: take, train, take aim, direct]
     2: propose or intend; "I aim to arrive at noon" [syn: purpose,
         purport, propose]
     3: move into a desired direction of discourse; "What are you
        driving at?" [syn: drive, get]
     4: specifically design a product, event, or activity for a
        certain public [syn: calculate, direct]
     5: intend (something) to move towards a certain goal; "He aimed
        his fists towards his opponent's face"; "criticism
        directed at her superior"; "direct your anger towards
        others, not towards yourself" [syn: target, place, direct,
         point]
     6: direct (a remark) toward an intended goal; "She wanted to
        aim a pun"
     7: have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal [syn: aspire, shoot
        for]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Ulterior \Ul*te"ri*or\, a. [L., comp. of ultra, ultro, beyond,
   on the other side, properly cases of an old adjective, formed
   with a comparative suffix, which is akin to OL. uls beyond,
   L. olim formerly, hereafter, orig., at that time, ille that,
   OL. olle, ollus. Cf. Outrage.]
   1. Situated beyond, or on the farther side; thither; --
      correlative with hither.

   2. Further; remoter; more distant; succeeding; as, ulterior
      demands or propositions; ulterior views; what ulterior
      measures will be adopted is uncertain.

   Ulterior object or aim, an object or aim beyond that
      which is avowed.
Aim \Aim\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Aimed; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Aiming.] [OE. amen, aimen, eimen, to guess at, to estimate,
   to aim, OF. esmer, asmer, fr. L. aestimare to estimate; or
   perh. fr. OF. aesmer; ? (L. ad) + esmer. See Estimate.]
   1. To point or direct a missile weapon, or a weapon which
      propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the
      intent of hitting it; as, to aim at a fox, or at a target.

   2. To direct the indention or purpose; to attempt the
      accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor;
      -- followed by at, or by an infinitive; as, to aim at
      distinction; to aim to do well.

            Aim'st thou at princes?               --Pope.

   3. To guess or conjecture. [Obs.] --Shak.
Aim \Aim\, v. t.
   To direct or point, as a weapon, at a particular object; to
   direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or
   against an object; as, to aim a musket or an arrow, the fist
   or a blow (at something); to aim a satire or a reflection (at
   some person or vice).
Aim \Aim\, n. [Cf. OF. esme estimation, fr. esmer. See Aim, v.
   i.]
   1. The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow,
      in the line of direction with the object intended to be
      struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, as a
      spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular
      point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.

            Each at the head leveled his deadly aim. --Milton.

   2. The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be
      attained or affected.

            To be the aim of every dangerous shot. --Shak.

   3. Intention; purpose; design; scheme.

            How oft ambitious aims are crossed!   --Pope.

   4. Conjecture; guess. [Obs.]

            What you would work me to, I have some aim. --Shak.

   To cry aim (Archery), to encourage. [Obs.] --Shak.

   Syn: End; object; scope; drift; design; purpose; intention;
        scheme; tendency; aspiration.
Command \Com*mand"\, n.
   1. An authoritative order requiring obedience; a mandate; an
      injunction.

            Awaiting what command their mighty chief Had to
            impose.                               --Milton.

   2. The possession or exercise of authority.

            Command and force may often create, but can never
            cure, an aversion.                    --Locke.

   3. Authority; power or right of control; leadership; as, the
      forces under his command.

   4. Power to dominate, command, or overlook by means of
      position; scope of vision; survey.

            The steepy stand Which overlooks the vale with wide
            command.                              --Dryden.

   5. Control; power over something; sway; influence; as, to
      have command over one's temper or voice; the fort has
      command of the bridge.

            He assumed an absolute command over his readers.
                                                  --Dryden.

   6. A body of troops, or any naval or military force or post,
      or the whole territory under the authority or control of a
      particular officer.

   Word of command (Mil.), a word or phrase of definite and
      established meaning, used in directing the movements of
      soldiers; as, aim; fire; shoulder arms, etc.

   Syn: Control; sway; power; authority; rule; dominion;
        sovereignty; mandate; order; injunction; charge; behest.
        See Direction.

Source: V.E.R.A. -- Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms December 2001

AIM
        Advanced Invar Mask (Display, ViewSonic)
AIM
        Alternate Input Method (OS/2)
AIM
        AOL Instant Messenger [protocol] (AOL)
AIM
        Apple, IBM, Motorola [consortium] (Apple, IBM, Motorola, org.)
AIM
        Association of Imaging Manufacturers (org.)
AIM
        ATM / Ascend Inverse Multiplexing [protocol] (ATM)
AIM
        Automatic Interface Management (Brother)

Source: THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993)

AIM, n.  The task we set our wishes to.

    "Cheer up!  Have you no aim in life?"
        She tenderly inquired.
    "An aim?  Well, no, I haven't, wife;
        The fact is -- I have fired."
                                                                  G.J.