stab

¹

[ stab ]

verb (used with object)

, stabbed, stab·bing.

1. to pierce or wound with or as if with a pointed weapon:

   She stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork.

   Synonyms: transfix, pin, penetrate, spear

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, stab·bing.

1. to thrust with or as if with a knife or other pointed weapon:

   to stab at an attacker.

2. to deliver a wound, as with a pointed weapon.

noun

1. the act of stabbing.
2. a thrust or blow with, or as if with, a pointed weapon.
3. an attempt; try;

   Make a stab at an answer before giving up.

4. a wound made by stabbing.
5. a sudden, brief, and usually painful, sensation:

   He felt a stab of pain in his foot.

   A stab of pity ran through her.

stab.

²

abbreviation for

1. stabilization.
2. stabilizer.
3. stable.

stab

/ stæb /

verb

1. tr to pierce or injure with a sharp pointed instrument
2. tr (of a sharp pointed instrument) to pierce or wound

   the knife stabbed her hand

3. whenintr, often foll by at to make a thrust (at); jab

   he stabbed at the doorway

4. tr to inflict with a sharp pain
5. stab in the back
   1. verb to do damage to the reputation of (a person, esp a friend) in a surreptitious way
   2. noun a treacherous action or remark that causes the downfall of or injury to a person

noun

1. the act or an instance of stabbing
2. an injury or rift made by stabbing
3. a sudden sensation, esp an unpleasant one

   a stab of pity

4. informal.
   an attempt (esp in the phrase make a stab at )

Derived Forms

• ˈstabber, noun

Other Words From

• re·stab verb restabbed restabbing
• un·stabbed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stab¹

First recorded in 1435–45 for the noun, and in 1525–35 for the verb; Middle English ( Scots ) noun stab, stabbe, stappe, of uncertain origin; compare Scots stob “needle, large needle”; verb from the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stab¹

C14: from stabbe stab wound; probably related to Middle English stob stick

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. a stab in the back, an act of treachery.
2. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing stab

In addition to the idiom beginning with stab , also see make a stab at .

Example Sentences

In that way, Chu takes a stab at making a blockbuster for our times, one that doesn’t shy away from contending with the darkness of contemporary politics and society.

From Salon

"Literally all I had was some stabbing pain on a Sunday night. I went to the doctor and was sent for an ultrasound on the Tuesday."

From BBC

“She asked, ‘Would you want to take a stab at this?’

From Los Angeles Times

At least 35 people were killed in a car attack in southern China on 12 November, and eight people were killed in a stabbing at a school in eastern China over the weekend.

From BBC

And right now he appears to be obsessed with setting up the conditions for his revenge on the "Deep State" and the people he believes stabbed him in the back during his first term.

From Salon

Related Words

• jab
• twinge