a discharge of a firearm, bow, etc.

the range of or the distance traveled by a missile in its flight.

an aimed discharge of a missile.

an attempt to hit a target with a missile.

an act or instance of shooting a firearm, bow, etc.

a small ball or pellet of lead, a number of which are loaded in a cartridge and used for one charge of a shotgun.

such pellets collectively

a charge of shot.

a projectile for discharge from a firearm or cannon.

such projectiles collectively

shot and shell.

a person who shoots; marksman

He was a good shot.

Slang . a blow; punch

The prizefighter was knocked out by a shot in the chin.

anything like a shot, esp. in being sudden and forceful.

a heavy metal ball that competitors cast as far as possible in shot-putting contests.

an aimed stroke, throw, or the like, as in certain games, esp. in an attempt to score.

an attempt or try

He's entitled to a shot at the championship.

a remark aimed at some person or thing.

a guess at something.

a hypodermic injection, as of a serum, vaccine, narcotic, or anaesthetic

He took a series of immunizing shots for hay fever.

a small quantity, esp. an ounce, of undiluted liquor.

an amount due, esp. at a tavern.

Photography .

a photograph, esp. a snapshot

Here's a nice shot of my kids.

the act of making a photograph, esp. a snapshot.

Movies, Television . a unit of action photographed without interruption and constituting a single camera view.

an explosive charge in place for detonation, as in mining or quarrying.

Metallurgy . comparatively hard globules of metal in the body of a casting.

Nautical . a 90-foot (27-m) length of anchor cable or chain.

Checkers . a compulsory series of exchanges, especially when it proves favorable to the aggressor.

Textiles .

a pick sent through the shed in a single throw of the shuttle.

(in carpet weaving) filling yarn used to bind the pile to the fabric, usually expressed with a preceding number representing the quantity of picks used

three-shot carpet.

a defect in a fabric caused by an unusual color or size in the yarn.

a chance with odds for and against; a bet

a 20 to 1 shot that his horse will come in first.

to load or supply with shot.

to weight with shot.

to manufacture shot, as in a shot tower. ?

by a long shot. long shot ( def. 4 ) .

call one's shots

Informal . to indicate beforehand what one intends to do and how one intends to do it.

call the shots

Informal . to have the power or authority to make decisions or control policy

Now that he's chairman of the board, he calls the shots.

have or take a shot at

make an attempt at

I'll have a shot at solving the problem.

like a shot

instantly; quickly

He bolted out of here like a shot.

shot in the arm, Informal . something that results in renewed vigor, confidence

etc.; stimulus

Her recent promotion has given her a shot in the arm. The new members gave the club a shot in the arm.

shot in the dark

Informal . a wild guess; a random conjecture.

noun

backfire

noun

attempt , break , conjecture , effort , endeavor , fling * , go * , guess , occasion , opening , opportunity , pop * , show , slap * , stab * , surmise , time , turn , whack * , whirl * , ball , buckshot , bullet , dart , lead , lob , missile , pellet , projectile , slug , throw , crack , essay , go , offer , stab , trial , try , chance , dram , jigger , sip , tot , ammunition , blank , blast , discharge , fling , gunfire , jolt , marksman , range , reach