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 .

Related Words

• jab
• twinge