Stab
verb (used with object), stabbed, stabbing.
1.
to pierce or wound with or as if with a pointed weapon:
She stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork.
2.
to thrust, plunge, or jab (a knife, pointed weapon, or the like) into something:
He stabbed the knife into the man’s chest.
3.
to penetrate sharply or painfully:
Their misery stabbed his conscience.
4.
to make a piercing, thrusting, or pointing motion at or in: He stabbed me in the chest with his finger.
The speaker stabbed the air in anger.
verb (used without object), stabbed, stabbing.
5.
to thrust with or as if with a knife or other pointed weapon:
to stab at an attacker.
6.
to deliver a wound, as with a pointed weapon.
noun
7.
the act of stabbing.
8.
a thrust or blow with, or as if with, a pointed weapon.
9.
an attempt; try:
Make a stab at an answer before giving up.
10.
a wound made by stabbing.
11.
a sudden, brief, and usually painful, sensation: He felt a stab of pain in his foot.
A stab of pity ran through her.
Idioms
12.
a stab in the back, an act of treachery.
13.
stab (someone) in the back, to do harm to (someone), especially to a friend or to a person who is unsuspecting or in a defenseless position.
1.
stabilization.
2.
stabilizer.
3.
stable.
verb stabs, stabbing, stabbed
1.
(transitive) to pierce or injure with a sharp pointed instrument
2.
(transitive) (of a sharp pointed instrument) to pierce or wound: the knife stabbed her hand
3.
when intr, often foll by at. to make a thrust (at); jab: he stabbed at the doorway
4.
(transitive) to inflict with a sharp pain
5.
stab in the back
(verb) to do damage to the reputation of (a person, esp a friend) in a surreptitious way
(noun) a treacherous action or remark that causes the downfall of or injury to a person
noun
6.
the act or an instance of stabbing
7.
an injury or rift made by stabbing
8.
a sudden sensation, esp an unpleasant one: a stab of pity
9.
(informal) an attempt (esp in the phrase make a stab at)
squooshy
language
A descendent of BCPL.
(1996-08-25)
In addition to the idiom beginning with stab
Read Also:
- Stab-11
[“The Translation and Interpretation of STAB-11”, A.J.T. Colin et al, Soft Prac & Exp 5(2):123-138, Apr 1975]. (1996-08-25)
- Stabat-mater
[stah-baht mah-ter, stey-bat mey-ter] /ˈstɑ bɑt ˈmɑ tɛr, ˈsteɪ bæt ˈmeɪ tər/ noun 1. (italics) a Latin hymn, composed in the 13th century, commemorating the sorrows of the Virgin Mary at the Cross. 2. a musical setting for this. Stabat Mater /ˈstɑːbæt ˈmɑːtə/ noun 1. (RC Church) a Latin hymn, probably of the 13th century, […]
- Stabbing
adjective 1. penetrating; piercing: a stabbing pain. 2. emotionally wounding: a stabbing remark. 3. incisive or trenchant: a stabbing, satirical phrase. verb (used with object), stabbed, stabbing. 1. to pierce or wound with or as if with a pointed weapon: She stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork. 2. to thrust, plunge, or jab […]
- Stab cell
stab cell n. See band cell.
- Stab culture
stab culture n. A culture made by inserting an inoculating needle with inoculum down the center of a solid medium contained in a test tube.