stab

¹stab

noun \ˈstab\

Definition of STAB

1

: a wound produced by a pointed object or weapon

2

a : a thrust of a pointed weapon

b : a jerky thrust

3

: effort, try

4

: a sudden sharp feeling <stabs of regret>

Examples of STAB

1. <the injection left a small stab on her upper arm>
2. <everybody will get a stab at solving the problem>

Origin of STAB

Middle English stabbe

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to STAB

Synonyms

perforation, pinhole, pinprick, punch, puncture, prick

Related Words

gouge, groove, hollow; break, cut, gash, incision, laceration, notch, rent, rip, rupture, slash, slit, tear

Rhymes with STAB

ab, blab, cab, crab, Crabbe, dab, drab, fab, flab, gab, grab, jab, lab, Lab, Mab, nab, scab, slab, tab

²stab

verb

stabbedstab·bing

Definition of STAB

transitive verb

1

: to wound or pierce by the thrust of a pointed object or weapon

2

: thrust, drive

intransitive verb

: to thrust or give a wound with or as if with a pointed weapon

— stab·ber noun

— stab in the back

: betray

Examples of STAB

1. He stabbed her with a dagger.
2. The victim was stabbed in the chest five times.

First Known Use of STAB

1530

Related to STAB

Synonyms

gore, harpoon, jab, lance, peck, pick, pierce, pink, puncture, run through, skewer, spear, spike, spit, impale, stick, transfix, transpierce

Related Words

spindle; perforate, riddle; bayonet, dirk, gimlet, pike, poniard, prong, quill; pinprick, poke, prick, punch, thrust; cut, knife, slice