new stem or branch growth on a plant.

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
shoot (verb)
transitive verb
1.
a) (1) to eject or impel or cause to be ejected or impelled by a sudden release of tension (as of a bowstring or slingshot or by a flick of a finger) - shoot an arrow shoot a spitball shoot a marble
(2) to drive forth or cause to be driven forth by an explosion (as of a powder charge in a firearm or of ignited fuel in a rocket)
(3) to drive forth or cause to be driven forth by a sudden release of gas or air - shoot darts from a blowgun a steam catapult shoots planes from a carrier
(4) to propel (as a ball or puck) toward a goal by striking or pushing with part of the body (as the hand or foot) or with an implement , also to score by so doing - shoot the winning goal shoot a basket
(5) to throw or cast off or out often with force - shoot dice the horse shot his rider out of the saddle
b) to cause (as a gun or bow) to propel a missile
c) (1) to utter (as words or sounds) rapidly or suddenly or with force - shoot out a stream of invective
(2) to emit (as light, flame, or fumes) suddenly and rapidly
(3) to send forth with suddenness or intensity - shot a look of anger at them
d) to discharge, dump, or empty especially by overturning, upending, or directing into a slide
2.
to affect by as - shooting
a) to strike with a missile especially from a bow or gun , especially to wound or kill with a missile discharged from a bow or firearm
b) to remove or destroy by use of firearms - shot out the light , also - wreck explode
3.
a) to push or slide (as the bolt of a door or lock) into or out of a fastening
b) to push or thrust forward stick out - toads shooting out their tongues
c) to put forth in growing
d) to place, send, or bring into position abruptly
4.
a) (1) to engage in (a sport or game or a portion of a game that involves shooting) - play shoot pool shoot a round of golf shoot craps
(2) to achieve (a particular score) in a game that involves shooting - shoot 80 in golf
b) (1) to place or offer (a bet) on the result of casting dice - shoot $5
(2) to use up by or as if by betting - exhaust shot his annual bonus on a shady deal
5.
a) to engage in the hunting and killing of (as game) with firearms especially as a sport - shoot woodcock
b) to hunt over - shoot a tract of woodland
6.
a) to cause to move suddenly or swiftly forward - shot the car onto the highway
b) to send or carry quickly - dispatch shoot the letter on to me as soon as you receive it
7.
to variegate as if by sprinkling color in streaks, flecks, or patches
8.
to pass swiftly by, past, or along - shooting rapids
9.
to plane (as the edge of a board) straight or true
10.
a) - set off detonate ignite shoot a charge of dynamite
b) to effect by blasting
11.
to determine the altitude of
12.
to take a picture or series of pictures or television images of - photograph film
13.
a) to give an injection to
intransitive verb
b) to inject (an illicit drug) especially into the bloodstream
1.
a) to go or pass rapidly and precipitately - sparks shooting all over his feet shot out from under him
b) to move ahead by force of momentum
c) to stream out suddenly - spurt
d) to dart in or as if in rays from a source of light
e) to dart with a piercing sensation - pain shot up my arm
2.
a) to cause an engine or weapon to discharge a missile
b) to use a firearm or bow especially for sport (as in hunting)
3.
to propel a missile - guns that shoot many miles
4.
- protrude project
5.
a) to grow or sprout by or as if by putting forth - shoots
b) - develop mature
c) to spring or rise rapidly or suddenly - often used with up in a burst of growth he shot up to six feet tall prices shot up
6.
a) to propel an object (as a ball) in a particular way
b) to drive the ball or puck toward a goal
7.
to cast dice
8.
to slide into or out of a fastening - a bolt that shoots in either direction
9.
to record something (as on film or videotape) with a camera
10.
to begin to speak - usually used as an imperative OK, shoot, what do you have to say
shoot (noun)
1.
a sending out of new growth or the growth sent out as
a) a stem or branch with its leaves and appendages especially when not yet mature
b) - offshoot
2.
a) an act of (as with a bow or a firearm) - shooting
(1) - shot
(2) the firing of a missile especially by artillery
b) (1) a hunting trip or party
(2) the right to shoot game in a particular area or land over which it is held
c) (1) a shooting match - skeet shoot
(2) a round of shots in a shooting match
d) the action or an instance of shooting with a camera a session or a series of sessions of photographing or filming - a movie shoot
3.
a) a motion or movement of rapid thrusting as
(1) a sudden or rapid advance
(2) a momentary darting sensation - twinge
(3) - thrust
(4) the pace between strokes in rowing
b) a bar of rays - beam a shoot of sunlight
4.
probably by folk etymology from French
a) a rush of water down a steep or rapid
b) a place where a stream runs or descends swiftly
shoot (interjection)
- used to express annoyance or surprise
Related Articles:
shoot (Wikipedia)
This article is about new growth in plants. For other uses, see Shoot (disambiguation).

In botany, shoots consist of stems including their appendages, the leaves and lateral buds, flowering stems and flower buds. The new growth from seed germination that grows upward is a shoot where leaves will develop. In the spring, perennial plant shoots are the new growth that grows from the ground in herbaceous plants or the new stem or flower growth that grows on woody plants.

In everyday speech, shoots are often synonymous with stems. Stems, which are an integral component of shoots, provide an axis for buds, fruits, and leaves.

Young shoots are often eaten by animals because the fibres in the new growth have not yet completed secondary cell wall development, making the young shoots softer and easier to chew and digest. As shoots grow and age, the cells develop secondary cell walls that have a hard and tough structure. Some plants (e.g. bracken) produce toxins that make their shoots inedible or less palatable.

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