stab

STAB/stæb/

Noun pluralstabs

18 meanings of stab

1
verbtransitive
To hurt someone by pushing a knife or other sharp object into them.
Like pushing a pin hard into a soft piece of fruit.
The attacker tried to stab him with a kitchen knife.
She grabbed a fork and stabbed the intruder in the arm.
Similarjab, shiv
Note
2
nouncountable
A quick push or thrust into something with a pointed object.
Like one quick poke with the end of a stick.
One stab of the needle and the balloon popped.
He killed the spider with a single stab of his pencil.
Similarjab, thrust, poke, lunge, prod
Note
3
nouncountable
A cut or hole in the body made by a knife or other sharp object.
Like a small, deep hole left behind by a sharp point.
The doctor cleaned the stab on his shoulder.
Deep stabs like this one usually need stitches.
4
nouncolloquialcountable
A try at doing something, especially when you are not sure you can do it.
Like guessing an answer even when you're not certain.
I'll take a stab at fixing the bike myself.
Give the puzzle a stab before you look up the answer.
Similarattempt, try, shot, go (entry), crack
Note
5
verbtransitive
To push something pointed quickly forward with a sharp, jabbing move.
Like quickly poking the air with the end of a pencil.
Don't stab your fork at the other kids.
He stabbed his finger toward the exit.
Similarjab, thrust, poke, prod, point
6
verbintransitive
To hit out wildly with the pointed end of something, often missing.
Like poking at something in the dark without seeing it.
He stabbed at the weeds with a stick.
Children stab at the piñata until candy spills out.
Similarjab, poke, prod, lunge, swipe
Note
7
verbintransitive
To give a sudden, sharp feeling of pain.
Like a quick burst of pain, as if a pin pricked you.
Pain stabbed through her knee as she stood up.
Sharp cramps stab through his side when he runs too fast.
Similarpierce, throb, gnaw, shoot
8
nouncountable
A sharp, sudden hurt to someone's feelings.
Like a quick, sharp ache inside, but in your heart instead of your body.
She felt a stab of guilt when she saw his face.
A stab of jealousy hit him at the party.
Similarpang, twinge, prick, jolt, flash
9
verbfigurativelytransitive
To harm someone in a hidden way by telling lies about them.
Like hurting someone with secret lies instead of an open fight.
He stabbed his old friend by spreading lies behind his back.
She felt coworkers were trying to stab her with cruel rumors.
Similardefame, discredit, disparage, denigrate, belittle
Oppositepraise, defend
Note
10
nouncountable
A sharp, hurtful comment meant to criticize someone.
Like a small poke that hurts your feelings instead of your body.
His cruel stab at her painting made her want to quit.
I'm tired of the little stabs she makes about my weight.
Similardig, jab, swipe, barb, attack
Oppositecompliment

11
nouncountable
A short, sharp chord that adds a sudden burst of drama to music.
Like a sudden loud clap that makes you jump.
The horror movie used a loud stab to scare the audience.
A quick stab from the brass made everyone in the theater jump.
Similarsting
Note
12
verbtransitive
To make small holes through folded paper near the spine so thread or wire can pass through.
Like poking holes in stacked paper so a string can go through.
The binder will stab the pages before sewing them together.
They stab each bundle near the fold so the wire fits through.
Similarpierce, punch, perforate
13
verbtransitive
To scratch up a brick wall with a pointed tool so plaster will stick to it.
Like scratching a smooth surface so glue sticks better.
The workers stab the wall before they put on plaster.
You should stab the bricks so the plaster grips well.
Similarroughen, hack, key
Oppositesmooth
14
verbtransitive
To carefully line up the end of a pipe and feed it into its connector.
Like fitting a straw into the small hole of a juice box.
The crew will stab the pipe into the coupling slowly.
Workers stab each section into place before tightening it.
Similarinsert, guide
Note
15
nouncountable
A bacteria sample grown by poking a needle deep into a solid, jelly-like food.
Like planting a seed deep in jelly to watch it grow.
The student prepared a stab to grow the bacteria overnight.
Each stab sat in the warm cabinet for two days.
16
nounslangcountable
The fin-like part of a plane's tail that keeps it steady in flight.
Like the small fins on the back of a dart that keep it flying straight.
The mechanic checked the stab before the plane took off.
Ice on the stab can make a plane hard to control.
Similarstabilizer, tailplane
Note
17
adjectiveabbreviationclipping
Short form of established. Old British trade slang for a regular job with fixed pay, not casual work.
Do you know whether any country offices pay their men by the thousand, or whether they are on stab wages? — I do not know. Some are paid stab wages, but I do not know whether there is much piece-work.
1893, Proceedings of the Parliament of South Australia
Note
18
nounabbreviationclipping
Short form of establishment. Old British trade slang for a job on regular weekly pay.
Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–15

This word first appeared in Scottish English. It comes from a Middle English word meaning 'a stab', probably a form of a word for a pointed stick or stake, from Old Norse.

Meaning 16

A short form of the word 'stabilizer'.