the location of the target that is to be hit
"The sniper adjusted his scope until he could clearly see the distant building, which was now the only viable target for their mission."
A butt or mark to shoot at, as for practice, or to test the accuracy of a firearm, or the force of a projectile.
"The archer adjusted his stance before releasing the arrow toward the paper target pinned to the tree trunk."
In plain English: A target is a specific person, group, or thing that someone plans to affect or reach.
"The marketing team decided to target young adults with their new campaign."
To aim something, especially a weapon, at (a target).
"The sniper carefully adjusted his scope to target the distant building before taking the shot."
In plain English: To target something means to aim directly at it with the intention of hitting or affecting it.
"The company plans to target young adults with its new advertising campaign."
Usage: Use this verb to describe directing weapons or projectiles specifically toward an intended mark. It differs from general aiming by emphasizing the precise focus on a specific object rather than just pointing in a direction.
The word "target" comes from the Middle French diminutive of a term for a light shield. It entered English via this path originally referring to the defensive armor piece before its meaning shifted to the object used in shooting games.