Ask Difference

Aim vs. Idea — What's the Difference?

Aim vs. Idea — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Aim and Idea

ADVERTISEMENT

Compare with Definitions

Aim

Point or direct (a weapon or camera) at a target
Aim for the middle of the target
Aim the camcorder at some suitable object

Idea

(in Platonic thought) an eternally existing pattern of which individual things in any class are imperfect copies.

Aim

Have the intention of achieving
We aim to give you the best possible service
The programme will aim at deepening understanding

Idea

In common usage and in philosophy, ideas are abstract concepts. Also in philosophy, ideas can also be mental representational images of some object.

Aim

A purpose or intention; a desired outcome
Our primary aim is to achieve financial discipline
ADVERTISEMENT

Idea

A thought or suggestion as to a possible course of action
Recently, the idea of linking pay to performance has caught on
It's a good idea to do some research before you go

Aim

The directing of a weapon or missile at a target
His aim was perfect

Idea

The aim or purpose
I took a job with the idea of getting some money together

Aim

To direct (a weapon or camera) toward a point.

Idea

Something, such as a thought or conception, that is the product of mental activity.

Aim

To direct or propel (an object, such as a ball) toward a point
Aimed the pass at a wide receiver.
Aimed the shot at the lower right corner of the goal.

Idea

An opinion, conviction, or principle
Has some strange political ideas.

Aim

To direct toward or intend for a particular goal or group
The publicity campaign was aimed at improving the eating habits of children.

Idea

A plan, purpose, or goal
She started school with the idea of becoming a doctor.

Aim

To direct a weapon or camera
The sniper aimed carefully.

Idea

The gist or significance
The idea of the article is that investing in green technology can save you money in the long run.

Aim

To direct or propel an object toward a point
Aimed for the far goalpost.

Idea

A sense that something can happen; a notion or expectation
They have this idea that we can just drop what we're doing and go to the park.

Aim

To determine a course or direct an effort
Aim for a better education.

Idea

(Music) A theme or motif.

Aim

To propose to do something; intend
The historical society is aiming to restore the town hall.

Idea

In the philosophy of Plato, a non-physical form or archetype to which beings in phenomenal reality correspond only as imperfect replicas.

Aim

The act of aiming
Take careful aim.

Idea

In the philosophy of Kant, a concept of reason that is transcendent but nonempirical.

Aim

The ability to hit a target or intended point
A marksman with extraordinary aim.

Idea

In the philosophy of Hegel, absolute truth; the complete and ultimate product of reason.

Aim

The degree of accuracy of a weapon or of a person aiming a weapon or propelled object
Your aim was way off on that throw.

Idea

(Obsolete) A mental image of something remembered.

Aim

A purpose or intention toward which one's efforts are directed
My aim was to try to make him laugh.

Idea

(philosophy) An abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect approximations; pure essence, as opposed to actual examples.

Aim

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, such as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.
Take time with the aim of your gun.
To take aim

Idea

(obsolete) The conception of someone or something as representing a perfect example; an ideal.

Aim

The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.

Idea

(obsolete) The form or shape of something; a quintessential aspect or characteristic.

Aim

Intention or goal
My number one aim in life is to make money to make my parents, siblings and kids happy.

Idea

An image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory.
The mere idea of you is enough to excite me.

Aim

The ability of someone to aim straight; one's faculty for being able to hit a physical target
The police officer has excellent aim, always hitting the bullseye in shooting practice.

Idea

More generally, any result of mental activity; a thought, a notion; a way of thinking.

Aim

(obsolete) Conjecture; guess.

Idea

A conception in the mind of something to be done; a plan for doing something, an intention.
I have an idea of how we might escape.

Aim

(intransitive) To point or direct a missile, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it
He aimed at the target, but the arrow flew straight over it.

Idea

A purposeful aim or goal; intent
Yeah, that's the idea.

Aim

(intransitive) 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
To aim at a pass
To aim to do well in life

Idea

A vague or fanciful notion; a feeling or hunch; an impression.
He had the wild idea that if he leant forward a little, he might be able to touch the mountain-top.

Aim

(transitive) To direct or point (e.g. a weapon), at a particular object; to direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an object
To aim an arrow at the deer
She aimed a punch at her ex-boyfriend.

Idea

(music) A musical theme or melodic subject.

Aim

(transitive) To direct (something verbal) towards a certain person, thing, or group
To aim a satirical comment at Communists in general

Idea

The transcript, image, or picture of a visible object, that is formed by the mind; also, a similar image of any object whatever, whether sensible or spiritual.
Her sweet idea wandered through his thoughts.
Being the right idea of your fatherBoth in your form and nobleness of mind.
This representation or likeness of the object being transmitted from thence [the senses] to the imagination, and lodged there for the view and observation of the pure intellect, is aptly and properly called its idea.

Aim

To guess or conjecture.

Idea

A general notion, or a conception formed by generalization.
Alice had not the slightest idea what latitude was.

Aim

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.

Idea

Hence: Any object apprehended, conceived, or thought of, by the mind; a notion, conception, or thought; the real object that is conceived or thought of.
Whatsoever the mind perceives in itself, or as the immediate object of perception, thought, or undersanding, that I call idea.

Aim

To direct the indention 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.
Aim'st thou at princes?

Idea

A belief, option, or doctrine; a characteristic or controlling principle; as, an essential idea; the idea of development.
That fellow seems to me to possess but one idea, and that is a wrong one.
What is now "idea" for us? How infinite the fall of this word, since the time where Milton sang of the Creator contemplating his newly-created world, -"how it showed . . . Answering his great idea," -to its present use, when this person "has an idea that the train has started," and the other "had no idea that the dinner would be so bad!"

Aim

To guess or conjecture.

Idea

A plan or purpose of action; intention; design.
I shortly afterwards set off for that capital, with an idea of undertaking while there the translation of the work.

Aim

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).

Idea

A rational conception; the complete conception of an object when thought of in all its essential elements or constituents; the necessary metaphysical or constituent attributes and relations, when conceived in the abstract.

Aim

The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, 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.
Each at the head leveled his deadly aim.

Idea

A fiction object or picture created by the imagination; the same when proposed as a pattern to be copied, or a standard to be reached; one of the archetypes or patterns of created things, conceived by the Platonists to have excited objectively from eternity in the mind of the Deity.
Thence to behold this new-created world,The addition of his empire, how it showedIn prospect from his throne, how good, how fair,Answering his great idea.

Aim

The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.
To be the aim of every dangerous shot.

Idea

The content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about;
It was not a good idea
The thought never entered my mind

Aim

Intention; purpose; design; scheme.
How oft ambitious aims are crossed!

Idea

A personal view;
He has an idea that we don't like him

Aim

Conjecture; guess.
What you would work me to, I have some aim.

Idea

An approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth;
An estimate of what it would cost
A rough idea how long it would take

Aim

An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions;
His intent was to provide a new translation
Good intentions are not enough
It was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs
He made no secret of his designs

Idea

Your intention; what you intend to do;
He had in mind to see his old teacher
The idea of the game is to capture all the pieces

Aim

The goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable);
The sole object of her trip was to see her children

Idea

(music) melodic subject of a musical composition;
The theme is announced in the first measures
The accompanist picked up the idea and elaborated it

Aim

The action of directing something at an object;
He took aim and fired

Aim

The direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies

Aim

Aim or direct at; as of blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment;
Please don't aim at your little brother!
He trained his gun on the burglar
Don't train your camera on the women
Take a swipe at one's opponent

Aim

Propose or intend;
I aim to arrive at noon

Aim

Move into a desired direction of discourse;
What are you driving at?

Aim

Specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public

Aim

Intend (something) to move towards a certain goal;
He aimed his fists towards his opponent's face
Criticism directed at her superior
Direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself

Aim

Direct (a remark) toward an intended goal;
She wanted to aim a pun

Aim

Have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal

Share Your Discovery

Share via Social Media
Embed This Content
Embed Code
Share Directly via Messenger
Link
Previous Comparison
Diapason vs. Principal
Next Comparison
Prose vs. Sonnet

Popular Comparisons

Trending Comparisons

New Comparisons

Trending Terms