shot

I UK [ʃɒt] / US [ʃɑt] noun
Word forms "shot":
singular shot plural shots
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1) [countable] an act of firing a gun

fire a shot:

The man fired two shots from a handgun.

a) a bullet that is fired from a gun

The third shot hit the officer in the chest.

b) a sound of a gun being fired

The neighbours say they heard four shots.

c) used for referring to someone who regularly shoots, especially relating to how well or how badly they do it

a good/bad shot:

Mills was a very good shot.

2) [countable] an act of throwing, hitting, or kicking a ball, or a ball that has been thrown, hit, or kicked

You get tired and you start playing bad shots.

That was another fine shot from Tiger Woods.

shot at:

They didn't manage to get a single shot at our goal.

3)

a) [countable] cinema a view of something that you have because of the position of the camera in films, television, or photographs

a close-up shot (= with the camera very close to something):

Viewers can see a close-up shot of the artist's hands.

an opening shot (= what you see first in a film or television programme):

The opening shot is of a man walking across a field.

b) informal a photograph

Harold took a great shot of the dogs playing together.

4) [countable] informal a chance or attempt to do or get something

shot at:

This is her first shot at an international title.

have/get a shot at something:

We had a shot at bringing the ship round into the harbour.

give something your best shot (= try as hard as you can to do something):

Give it your best shot – that's all you can do.

5) [countable] informal something that you say or do as an attack

an opening shot (= something that begins an argument or fight):

It was the opening shot in the battle for control of the company.

6) [countable] a small amount of a strong alcoholic drink

shot of:

a shot of tequila

7) [countable] an injection of a drug (= when it is put into your body using a needle) given as a medical treatment

have/get a shot:

When is the last time you had a tetanus shot?

8) [uncountable] small metal balls that are fired from a shotgun

9) [countable] a heavy metal ball that you throw from your shoulder in a sport called the shot put

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- like a shot

- a shot in the arm

- a shot in the dark

See:

big shot, long I

II UK [ʃɒt] / US [ʃɑt] adjective [never before noun] informal

injured, damaged, or destroyed

The bones in her wrist were completely shot.

shot to pieces/hell (= severely damaged or completely destroyed):

My nerves are completely shot to pieces.

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get/be shot of — British

informal to get rid of someone or something

In the end, we were glad to be shot of the car.

- be shot through with something

III UK / US

the past tense and past participle of shoot I