Shoot

Shoot is an English word with several distinct but related meanings. It functions as both a verb and a noun, and its sense depends on context, ranging from weaponry and sports to photography and plant growth.

As a verb, to shoot commonly means to discharge a firearm or other projectile, such as a bullet, arrow, or dart. A shot refers to the single discharge, while “shooting” can describe the act or the activity.

In sports, to shoot denotes attempting to score by propelling the ball towards a target, such as shooting a basketball at the hoop or taking a penalty kick in soccer.

In photography and filmmaking, to shoot means to capture images or footage. A photo shoot or film shoot is a session planned to produce visual material, often organized with a schedule and crew.

In botany and horticulture, a shoot is a new growth on a plant, typically a stem with leaves that rises from a bud. Shoots contribute to a plant's development and can be pruned or trained.

As an interjection, “shoot” is a mild, casual expletive used to express frustration or to replace harsher language, similar to “darn” or “shucks.”

The term has diverse origins within Germanic languages and has been extended through metaphor to mean sending forth or producing results, including shoots of growth or projects set into motion.