boss

¹boss

noun \ˈbäs, ˈbȯs\

Definition of BOSS

1

a : a protuberant part or body <a boss of granite> <a boss on an animal's horn>

b : a raised ornamentation : stud

c : an ornamental projecting block used in architecture

2

: a soft pad used in ceramics and glassmaking

3

: the hub of a propeller

Illustration of BOSS

Origin of BOSS

Middle English boce, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *bottia

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with BOSS

doss, dross, floss, fosse, gloss, joss, Kos, Maas, os, pross, stoss, toss

²boss

transitive verb

Definition of BOSS

1

: to ornament with bosses : emboss

2

: to treat (as the surface of porcelain) with a boss

First Known Use of BOSS

15th century

³boss

noun

Definition of BOSS

1

: a person who exercises control or authority; specifically : one who directs or supervises workers

2

: a politician who controls votes in a party organization or dictates appointments or legislative measures

— boss·dom \-dəm\ noun

— boss·ism \ˈbä-ˌsi-zəm, ˈbȯ-\ noun

Origin of BOSS

Dutch baas master

First Known Use: 1653

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

⁴boss

adjective \ˈbȯs\

Definition of BOSS

slang

: excellent, first-rate

Examples of BOSS

1. a boss new rock band
2. <that's a really boss stereo you've got>

First Known Use of BOSS

1836

Related to BOSS

Synonyms

A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, bonny (also bonnie) [chiefly British], excellent [slang], brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool [slang], corking, crackerjack, cracking, dandy, divine, dope [slang], down [slang], dynamite, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous [slang], fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters (also gangbuster), gilt-edged (or gilt-edge), gone [slang], grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, hype [slang], immense, jim-dandy, keen, lovely, marvelous (or marvellous), mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, out-of-sight [slang], par excellence, peachy, peachy keen, phat [slang], prime, primo [slang], prize, prizewinning, quality, radical [slang], righteous [slang], sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-flight, top-notch, top-of-the-line, topping [chiefly British], top-shelf, unsurpassed, wizard [chiefly British], wonderful

Antonyms

atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched

Related Words

acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, good, OK (or okay), passable, satisfactory, tolerable; better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, high-test, premium, select, special, superfine; classical, standard, traditional

Near Antonyms

bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory; mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate

⁵boss

transitive verb \ˈbȯs\

Definition of BOSS

1

: to act as boss of

2

: to give usually arbitrary orders to —usually used with around

First Known Use of BOSS

1856

⁶boss

noun \ˈbȯs, ˈbäs\

Definition of BOSS

: cow, calf

Origin of BOSS

English dialect, young cow

First Known Use: 1790

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

boss

noun \ˈbäs, ˈbȯs\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of BOSS

: a protuberant part or body <a boss on an animal's horn>