shot¹ / shät/ • n. 1. the firing of a gun or cannon: he brought down a caribou with a single shot to the neck| fig. the opening shots have been fired in a legal battle over repairs. ∎  an attempt to hit a target by shooting: he asked me if I would like to have a shot at a pheasant. ∎  the range of a gun or cannon: six more desperadoes came galloping up and halted just out of rifle shot. ∎ fig. a critical or aggressive remark: Paul tried one last shot—“You realize what you want will cost more money?” ∎  a person with a specified level of ability in shooting: he was an excellent shot at short and long distances.2. a hit, stroke, or kick of the ball in sports such as basketball, tennis, or golf: his partner pulled off a winning backhand shot. ∎  an attempt to drive a ball into a goal; an attempt to score: he took a shot that the goalie stopped. ∎ inf. an attempt to do something: several of the competitors will have a shot at the title.3. (pl. same) a ball of stone or metal used as a missile fired from a large gun or cannon. ∎  (also lead shot) tiny lead pellets used in quantity in a single charge or cartridge in a shotgun. ∎  a heavy ball thrown by a shot-putter.4. a photograph: she took a shot of me holding a lamp near my face. ∎  a film sequence photographed continuously by one camera: the movie's opening shot is of a character walking across a featureless landscape. ∎  the range of a camera's view: a prop man was standing just out of shot.5. inf. a small drink, esp. of distilled liquor: he took a shot of whiskey. ∎  an injection of a drug or vaccine: Jerry gave the monkey a shot of a sedative.6. the launch of a space rocket: a moon shot.PHRASES: give it one's best shot inf. do the best that one can.like a shot inf. without hesitation; willingly: “Would you go back?” “Like a shot.”a shot across the bowssee bow³ .a shot in the arm inf. an encouraging stimulus: the movie was a real shot in the arm for our crew.a shot in the darksee dark.shot² past and past participle of shoot. • adj. 1. (of colored cloth) woven with a warp and weft of different colors, giving a contrasting iridescent effect when looked at from different angles: a dress of shot silk. ∎  interspersed with a different color: dark hair shot with silver.2. inf. ruined or worn out: a completely shot engine will put you out of the race my nerves are shot. ∎  drunk.PHRASES: shot through with suffused with (a particular feature or quality): the mist was shot through with orange spokes of light.shot to pieces (or to hell) inf. ruined.