Shoot  —v. (past and past part. Shot) 1  a (also absol.) Cause (a weapon) to fire. B kill or wound with a bullet, arrow, etc. 2 send out, discharge, etc., esp. Swiftly. 3 (often foll. By out, along, forth, etc.) Come or go swiftly or vigorously. 4  a (of a plant etc.) Put forth buds etc. B (of a bud etc.) Appear. 5 hunt game etc. With a gun. 6  film or photograph. 7 (also absol.) Esp. Football a score (a goal). B take a shot at (the goal). 8  (of a boat) sweep swiftly down or under (a bridge, rapids, etc.). 9 (usu. Foll. By through, up, etc.) (of a pain) seem to stab. 10 (often foll. By up; also absol.) Slang inject (a drug). —n. 1 a young branch or sucker. B new growth of a plant. 2  a hunting party, expedition, etc. B land shot over for game. 3 = *chute1. —int. Colloq. Invitation to ask questions etc.  shoot down 1 kill by shooting. 2 cause (an aircraft etc.) To crash by shooting. 3 argue effectively against. Shoot one's bolt colloq. Do all that is in one's power. Shoot one's mouth off slang talk too much or indiscreetly. Shoot up 1 grow rapidly. 2 rise suddenly. 3 terrorize by indiscriminate shooting. The whole shoot (or the whole shooting match) colloq. Everything. [old english]