Definition of "goal"

goal

/ɡəʊl/

noun
plural goals
1. A result that one is attempting to achieve.
  Quotations
  The goal should be to strengthen workers without hamstringing firms. Growth, rather than employment protection, is the priority. More work means a stronger labour market, which would bid up employees’ slice, as it did in America in the 1990s when unemployment was at record lows.
  2013 November 2, “A shrinking slice”, in The Economist, volume 409, number 8860
2. (sports) In many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object.
3. (sports) The act of placing the object into the goal.
4. A point scored in a game as a result of placing the object into the goal.
  Quotations
  The former Forest man, who passed a late fitness test, appeared to use Guy Moussi for leverage before nodding in David Fox's free-kick at the far post - his 22nd goal of the season.
  2011 April 15, Saj Chowdhury, “Norwich 2-1 Nott'm Forest”, in BBC Sport
5. (linguistics, grammar) 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.
verb
third-person singular simple present goals, present participle goaling, simple past and past participle goaled
1. (Gaelic football, Australian rules football) To score a goal.