goal

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The purpose toward which an endeavor is directed; an objective. See Synonyms at intention.
2. n. Sports The finish line of a race.
3. n. Sports A specified structure or zone into or over which players endeavor to advance a ball or puck.
4. n. Sports The score awarded for such an act.
5. n. Linguistics A noun or noun phrase referring to the place to which something moves.
6. n. Linguistics See patient.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A pole, post, or other object set up to mark the point determined for the end of a race, or for both its beginning and end, whether in one course or several courses; a mark or point to be reached in a race or other contest; the limit of a race.
2. n. In athletic games and plays, the mark, point, or line toward which effort is directed. In football, lacrosse, and similar games the goal consists of two upright posts placed in the ground a short distance from each other, and generally connected by a cross-beam or string, through or over which the players try to throw or kick the ball.
3. n. Hence—3. In foot-ball, etc., the act of throwing or kicking the ball through or over the goal: as, to make a goal.
4. n. 4. The end or termination; the finish.
5. n. The end or final purpose; the end to which a design or a course of action tends, or which a person aims to reach or accomplish.
6. n. A barrow or tumulus.
7. An erroneous spelling of gaol (now commonly jail), often found in books of the seventeenth century.
8. n. In astronomy, the point on the celestial sphere toward which the motion of a body is directed; thus, the earth's goal at any moment is a point on the ecliptic about 90 degrees west of the sun.

Wiktionary

1. n. A result that one is attempting to achieve.
2. n. In many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object.
3. n. The act of placing the object into the goal.
4. n. A point scored in a game as a result of placing the object into the goal.
5. n. A noun or noun phrase that receives the action of a verb. The subject of a passive verb or the direct object of an active verb. Also called a patient, target, or undergoer.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The mark set to bound a race, and to or around which the constestants run, or from which they start to return to it again; the place at which a race or a journey is to end.
2. n. The final purpose or aim; the end to which a design tends, or which a person aims to reach or attain.
3. n. A base, station, or bound used in various games as the point or object which a team must reach in order to score points; in certain games, the point which the ball or puck must pass in order for points to be scored. In football, it is a line between two posts across which the ball must pass in order to score points; in soccer or ice hockey, it is a net at each end of the soccer field into which the soccer ball or hocjey puck must be propelled; in basketball, it is the basket{7} suspended from the backboard, through which the basketball must pass.
4. n. The act or instance of propelling the ball or puck into or through the goal{3}, thus scoring points.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a successful attempt at scoring
2. n. the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey)
3. n. the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it
4. n. game equipment consisting of the place toward which players of a game try to advance a ball or puck in order to score points