boss

¹ American  

[baws, bos] / bɔs, bɒs /

noun

1. a person who employs or superintends workers; manager.

   Synonyms:

   overseer, administrator, superintendent, chief, foreman, head, supervisor

2. a politician who controls the party organization, as in a particular district.

3. a person who makes decisions, exercises authority, dominates, etc..

   My grandfather was the boss in his family.

4. (in a video game or role-playing game) a powerful nonplayer character, often appearing at the end of a level or at the end of the game, who must be defeated in order for a player to move on to a new level or to win the game (often used attributively): Your objective for this boss-level event is to survive several waves of zombie attacks.

   Is there a trick to beating the final boss?

   Your objective for this boss-level event is to survive several waves of zombie attacks.

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verb (used with object)

1. to be master of or over; manage; direct; control.

2. to order about, especially in an arrogant manner.

verb (used without object)

1. to be boss.

2. to be too domineering and authoritative.

adjective

1. chief; master.

2. Slang. first-rate.

boss ² American  

[baws, bos] / bɔs, bɒs /

noun

1. Botany, Zoology. a protuberance or roundish excrescence on the body or on some organ of an animal or plant.

2. Geology. a knoblike mass of rock, especially an outcrop of igneous or metamorphic rock.

3. an ornamental protuberance of metal, ivory, etc.; stud.

4. Architecture.

   1. an ornamental, knoblike projection, as a carved keystone at the intersection of ogives.

   2. a stone roughly formed and set in place for later carving.

5. Bookbinding. one of several pieces of brass or other metal inset into the cover of a book to protect the corners or edges or for decoration.

6. Machinery. a small projection on a casting or forging.

7. Nautical. a projecting part in a ship's hull, or in one frame of a hull, fitting around a propeller shaft.

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verb (used with object)

1. to ornament with bosses.

2. to emboss.

3. (in plumbing) to hammer (sheet metal, as lead) to conform to an irregular surface.

boss ³ American  

[bos, baws] / bɒs, bɔs /

noun

1. a familiar name for a calf or cow.

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boss ⁴ American  

[bos] / bɒs /

adjective

Scot.

1. hollow; empty.

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boss ¹ British  

/ bɒs /

noun

1. a knob, stud, or other circular rounded protuberance, esp an ornamental one on a vault, a ceiling, or a shield

2. biology any of various protuberances or swellings in plants and animals

3. 1. an area of increased thickness, usually cylindrical, that strengthens or provides room for a locating device on a shaft, hub of a wheel, etc

   2. a similar projection around a hole in a casting or fabricated component

4. an exposed rounded mass of igneous or metamorphic rock, esp the uppermost part of an underlying batholith

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verb

1. to ornament with bosses; emboss

boss ² British  

/ bɒs /

noun

1. a person in charge of or employing others

2. a professional politician who controls a party machine or political organization, often using devious or illegal methods

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verb

1. to employ, supervise, or be in charge of

2. to be domineering or overbearing towards (others)

adjective

1. slang excellent; fine

   a boss hand at carpentry

   that's boss!

BOSS ³ British  

/ bɒs /

acronym

1. Bureau of State Security; a branch of the South African security police

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boss ⁴ British  

/ bɒs /

noun

1. a calf or cow

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Etymology

Origin of boss¹

An Americanism dating from 1640–50; from Dutch baas “master, foreman”

Origin of boss²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English boce, from Anglo-French: “lump, growth, boil”; Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin bottia, of uncertain origin

Origin of boss³

An Americanism first recorded in 1790–1800; compare dialectal (southwest England) borse, boss, buss “six-month-old calf”

Origin of boss⁴

First recorded in 1505–15; of obscure origin

Example Sentences

The NHS remains on high alert over flu, health bosses say, but there are clear signs the surge in the virus has come to an end for now at least.

From BBC

BBC Sport examines whether time is already running out for Celtic's beleaguered boss.

From BBC

Washington: You know our bosses and producers are looking at us right now.

From Los Angeles Times

By a 3-1 vote, the panel found that Lee violated five additional counts of misusing his city position or helping his boss at the time — Councilmember Mitchell Englander — misuse his position.

From Los Angeles Times

Multiple department sources, who requested anonymity to discuss the private meeting and speak candidly about their boss, said McDonnell’s answer drew confused looks.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• administrator
• chief
• chieftain
• director
• employer
• executive
• leader
• owner
• supervisor