boss
Pluralbosses
Pluralbosses
- 1The person in charge of you at work, or the person who runs a business.
Like a coach who tells each player what to do during a game.
Ask your boss if you can leave early today.
The new boss gives each team member a list of tasks.
UsageSay my boss, or ask your boss.
Similarsupervisor, manager, chief, head
Oppositeemployee, worker, subordinate
Note
- 2
- 3A very strong enemy in a video game, often one you must beat to move on.
Like the hardest test you must pass before moving up to the next grade.
It took me ten tries to beat the final boss.
The boss at the end of the level had three health bars.
UsageOften the final boss.
Similarguardian
Note
- 4To keep telling someone what to do, as if you were in charge of them.
Like someone who always orders you around, as if they were the leader.
Stop trying to boss your little brother all the time.
He bosses everyone in the office without ever listening to them.
UsageOften boss someone around.
Similarbully, dominate, drive, command
Note
- 5The person who controls a political party in a city or area.
Like the person who quietly runs everything behind the scenes.
The local party boss decided who would run for mayor.
Voters grew tired of the boss who controlled every appointment.
UsageOften party boss.
Similarleader
- 6
Less common meanings
- 7
- 8A round part that sticks out, like the middle of a shield or a knob on a machine.
Like a small bump that sticks up around a hole to make it stronger.
The gear has a boss in the center where the shaft fits.
Engineers added a boss around the bolt hole to make it stronger.
Note
- 9
- 10A small seat or cushion, often made from a bundle of straw.
Note
- 11
- 12To decorate metal or leather with raised, rounded bumps.
- 13A large lump of rock that pushes up through other, different rock.
- 14A rough block of stone put in place to be carved into shape later.
- 15A thick block of foam or straw that an archery target is fixed to.
- 16A wooden bucket for holding mortar, hung from a hook while working.
Boss, a short trough for holding water, when tiling the roof
1842, Peter Nicholson, The Mechanic's CompanionHere, boss means a small tub or trough used while building or tiling. - 17A supply of water held ready for use, or water kept up high for pressure.
Showing meanings only.
More uses
- like a bosswith great confidence and skill
Practice
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Origins
From Dutch baas, meaning "master of a household." In America it came to mean a person in charge.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- English boss was borrowed from Dutch baas. en.wiktionary.org
- Dutch baas originally meant master or head of a household. ivdnt.org
- The word subsequently meant a person in charge. en.wiktionary.org
From Old French boce, meaning "lump" or "bulge." It is related to the word beat.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- Boss derives from Old French boce, meaning lump or bulge. en.wiktionary.org
- Boss in this sense is etymologically related to beat. en.wiktionary.org
Apparently a changed form of bast (also spelled bass), plant fiber used for mats.