a new branch
"The gardener carefully pruned away the dead leaves before trimming back the unwanted shoot growing from the base of the rose bush."
The emerging stem and embryonic leaves of a new plant.
"After weeks of dark soil, the seedling finally sent up its first green shoot toward the sunlight."
In plain English: A shoot is a new stem or branch that grows from a plant.
"The photographer asked me to shoot some pictures of the sunset."
Usage: Use shoot as a noun to refer specifically to the young, tender growth or sprout at the top of a plant that emerges from soil or water. This term distinguishes the fresh vegetation itself from older stems or branches on established plants.
move quickly and violently
"The car tore down the street"
"He came charging into my office"
throw or propel in a specific direction or towards a specific objective
"shoot craps"
"shoot a golf ball"
record on photographic film
"I photographed the scene of the accident"
"She snapped a picture of the President"
emit (as light, flame, or fumes) suddenly and forcefully
"The dragon shot fumes and flames out of its mouth"
throw dice, as in a crap game
"After arguing over who would go first at craps, he finally decided to just shoot for everyone's sake."
spend frivolously and unwisely
"Fritter away one's inheritance"
To launch a projectile.
"The archer pulled back his arm and shot an arrow straight at the target."
To fire (a weapon that releases a projectile).
"The hunter decided to shoot his rifle at the distant bird before it flew away."
In plain English: To shoot is to fire a weapon or send something moving quickly through the air.
"He decided to shoot a photo of the sunset with his camera."
A mild expletive, expressing disbelief or disdain
"Shoot, I can't believe you forgot to lock the door again."
The word "shoot" was inherited from Middle English and Old English, tracing its roots back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to shoot or throw." Its core meaning has remained consistent throughout its history in the language.