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Aim vs Gain - What's the difference?

aim | gain |

As an initialism aim

is aol instant messenger.

As a preposition gain is

(obsolete) against.

As an adjective gain is

(obsolete) straight, direct; near; short.

As an adverb gain is

(obsolete) straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.

As a noun gain is

the act of gaining or gain can be (architecture) a square or bevelled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam.

As a verb gain is

to acquire possession of what one did not have before.

aim

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, or object, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.
  • The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.
  • Intention; purpose; design; scheme.
    • My number one aim in life is to make money to make my parents, siblings and kids happy .
  • (obsolete) Conjecture; guess.
  • * Shakespeare
    • What you would work me to, I have some aim .
    Synonyms
    * (intention) aspiration, design, end, ettle, intention, mint, object, purpose, scheme, scope, tendency * See also

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To point or direct a missile weapon, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it; as, to aim at a fox, or at a target.
  • To direct the intention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor;—followed by at, or by an infinitive; as, to aim at distinction; to aim to do well.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=The stories did not seem to me to touch life. They were plainly intended to have a bracing moral effect, and perhaps had this result for the people at whom they were aimed .}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-22, volume=407, issue=8841, page=76, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Snakes and ladders , passage=Risk is everywhere.
  • To direct or point, as a weapon, at a particular object; to direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an object; as, to aim a musket or an arrow, the fist or a blow (at something); to aim a satire or a reflection (at some person or vice).
  • (obsolete) To guess or conjecture.
    • (Shakespeare)
    Usage notes
    * Sense 3. This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See
    Derived terms
    * aim at *

    Etymology 2

    Initialism

    (Initialism) (head)
  • AIM; AOL Instant Messenger.

    • External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    *

    gain

    English

    Etymology 1

    From dialectal English (m), (m), short for (m), . More at (l).

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • (obsolete) Against.
    • Derived terms
    * (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), (m), , from the adjective.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Straight, direct; near; short.
    • the gainest way
  • (obsolete) Suitable; convenient; ready.
  • (dialectal) Easy; tolerable; handy, dexterous.
  • (dialectal) Honest; respectable; moderate; cheap.
    • Derived terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (obsolete) Straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.
  • (dialectal) Suitably; conveniently; dexterously; moderately.
  • (dialectal) Tolerably; fairly.
    • gain quiet (= fairly/pretty quiet)

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) (m), . The Middle English word was reinforced by (etyl) . Related to (l), (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of gaining.
  • * Tennyson
    • the lust of gain
  • What one gains, as a return on investment or dividend.
    • No pain, no gain .
  • * Shakespeare
    • Everyone shall share in the gains .
  • (electronics) The factor by which a signal is multiplied.
    • Antonyms
    * loss
    Derived terms
    * autogain * gainful * gainsome

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To acquire possession of what one did not have before.
    • Looks like you've gained a new friend.
  • * Bible, Matthew xvi. 26
    • What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
  • * Alexander Pope
    • For fame with toil we gain , but lose with ease.
  • To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress.
    • The sick man gains daily.
  • * Bible, Ezekiel xxii. 12
    • Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion.
  • (dated) To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition.
    • to gain''' a battle; to '''gain a case at law
  • To increase.
  • * 1883 , (Howard Pyle), (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood)
    • Then they had bouts of wrestling and of cudgel play, so that every day they gained in skill and strength.
  • To be more likely to catch or overtake an individual.
    • I'm gaining (on you).
    gain ground
  • To reach.
    • to gain the top of a mountain
  • * 1907 , Jack London, The Iron Heel :
    • Ernest laughed harshly and savagely when he had gained the street.
  • To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate.
  • * Bible, Matthew xviii. 15
    • If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
  • * Dryden
    • to gratify the queen, and gain the court
  • To put on weight.
    • I've been gaining .
  • (of a clock or watch) To run fast.

    • Etymology 4

    Compare (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (architecture) A square or bevelled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam.

    • Anagrams

    * (l) * (l) * (l), (l) ----