1. 1. An object, such as a padded disk with a marked surface, that is shot at to test accuracy in rifle or archery practice.
   2. Something aimed or fired at.
2. An object of criticism or attack.
3. One to be influenced or changed by an action or event.
4. A desired goal.
5. A railroad signal that indicates the position of a switch by its color, position, and shape.
6. The sliding sight on a surveyor's leveling rod.
7. A small round shield.
8. 1. A structure in a television camera tube with a storage surface that is scanned by an electron beam to generate a signal output current similar to the charge-density pattern stored on the surface.
   2. A usually metal part in an x-ray tube on which a beam of electrons is focused and from which x-rays are emitted.

1. To make a target of.
2. To aim at or for.
3. To establish as a target or goal.

on target

1. Completely accurate, precise, or valid: observations that were right on target.

[Middle English, small targe, from Old French targuete, variant of targete, diminutive of targe, light shield, of Germanic origin.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.