ɡəul n. 1
the object of a person's
ambition or
effort; a
destination; an
aim (fame is
his goal; London
was our goal). 2 a
Football a
pair of posts
with a
crossbar between which the ball
has to be
sent to
score. b a
cage or
basket used similarly in
other games. c a
point won (scored 3 goals). 3 a point
marking the
end of a race. øgoal
average Football the
ratio of the numbers of goals scored
for and against a
team in a
series of matches. goal
difference Football the difference of goals scored for and against. goal-kick 1 Assoc. Football a kick by the defending
side after attackers
send the ball
over the goal-line
without scoring. 2
Rugby Football an
attempt to kick a goal. goal-line Football a line between
each pair of goalposts, extended to
form the end-boundary of a
field of
play (cf. touch-line). goal-minder (or -tender) US a
goalkeeper at
ice hockey. goal-mouth Football the
space between or
near the goalposts. in goal in the
position of goalkeeper. øøgoalless adj. [16th
c.: orig. unkn.: perh.
identical with ME gol boundary]
