target

▪ I. target tar‧get ¹ [ˈtɑːgt ǁ ˈtɑːr-] noun [countable]

1. an organization, industry, government etc that is deliberately chosen to have something done to it:

target of

• There was persistent speculation that the company could be the target of a takeover bid.

• Computers are helping choose targets for direct-mail and telephone campaigns.

• Europe will be the main target for rising South African coal exports.

ˈtakeover ˌtarget FINANCE

a company that may be bought or that is being bought by another company:

• A corporation may buy up enough stock in the market to exert majority control of the takeover target.

2. a result such as a total, an amount, or a time which you aim to achieve:

• Dealers are under pressure to meet sales targets.

• Bonuses were introduced for employees who met production targets.

• The federal funds rate slipped to 7% from its target level of 8%.

3. on target on the way to achieving a result:

• The export business is booming and the U.S. business is right on target.

4. target customer/​group/​area etc MARKETING a limited group of people or area that a plan, idea etc is aimed at:

• Who is the target audience for this book?

• These advertisements are aimed mainly at our target customers.

  [m0] ▪ II. target target ² verb [transitive]

1. to aim products, programmes of work, etc at a particular area or group of people:

target something on something

• We will target funds on areas of research where breakthroughs are imminent.

target something at something

• The booklet is targeted at people approaching retirement.

2. to choose someone or something for a particular type of treatment:

• The main markets targeted for development have been those of the US and Western Europe.

— targeted adjective [only before a noun] :

• Investing relatively small amounts in targeted areas can bring big profits.

• a targeted advertising campaign

* * *

Ⅰ.

target UK US /ˈtɑːgɪt/ noun [C]

► MANAGEMENT, FINANCE, ECONOMICS, GOVERNMENT a result, level, or situation that an organization or group wants or plans to achieve: »

The company gave employees the details of performance targets for bonuses.

»

economic/financial targets

»

emissions/production/sales targets

»

earnings/inflation/budget targets

hit/meet/reach a target »

The French economy is on track to meet its growth targets.

»

lower/raise/reduce a target

exceed/miss/set a target »

The company has set a target of 10 million wholesale broadband connections by 2014.

a target date/level/price »

They plan to finish the manufacturing process by the new target date of October 31st.

→ See Note AIM(Cf. ↑aim)

► MARKETING, POLITICS a person, place, etc. that an action is directed at or intended for: a/the target for sb/sth »

The abundance of resources makes these areas aprime target for development.

»

Savers have replaced borrowers as the priority target for banks and building societies.

a/the target of sth »

Their chief executive officer is the target of an investigation into fraud.

► (also target company) FINANCE a company that another company wants to buy: an acquisition/bid/buyout target »

Their plan is to be a buyer rather than a buyout target.

»

The City has tipped the group as a takeover target.

► (also target price) FINANCE, MARKETING the price at which someone wants to buy or sell something: »

Prices have remained below the $21 target because demand growth has been slow.

»

The investment house has a 1,125p target price on the shares.

● an easy target (for sb/sth) — Cf. an easy target for sth

● on target — Cf. on target

→ See also ON TARGET EARNINGS(Cf. ↑on target earnings)

Ⅱ.

target UK US /ˈtɑːgɪt/ verb [T]

► MARKETING, POLITICS to direct something, especially advertising or a product, at a particular group of people or a particular area: aggressively/carefully/specifically target sb/sth »

The marketing campaign is specifically targeting a different type of customer.

target sth at sb/sth »

We need government restrictions on ads targeted at children.

target sth to sb/sth »

They plan to target the tax cut to the middle classes.

► MANAGEMENT, FINANCE to choose someone or something for a particular type of treatment: target sb/sth for sth »

They have targeted the failing retailing group for takeover.

target sb/sth as sth »

Certain areas of manufacturing have been targeted as priorities.

→ See also TARGETED(Cf. ↑targeted)