hobby

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hob·by¹

(hŏb′ē)

n. pl. hob·bies

An activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure.

[Middle English hobi, hobyn, small horse, hobby horse, perhaps from Hobin, Hobby, nickname for Robert.]

hob′by·ist n.

hob·by²

(hŏb′ē)

n. pl. hob·bies

Any of several small falcons of the genus Falco, formerly used for catching small birds or game.

[Middle English hobi, from Old French hobe, hobel.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

hobby

(ˈhɒbɪ)

n, pl -bies

1. (Other Non-sporting Hobbies) an activity pursued in spare time for pleasure or relaxation

2. (Animals) archaic or dialect a small horse or pony

3. short for hobbyhorse¹

4. (Automotive Engineering) an early form of bicycle, without pedals

[C14 hobyn, probably variant of proper name Robin; compare dobbin]

ˈhobbyist n

hobby

(ˈhɒbɪ)

n, pl -bies

(Animals) any of several small Old World falcons, esp the European Falco subbuteo, formerly used in falconry

[C15: from Old French hobet, from hobe falcon; probably related to Middle Dutch hobbelen to roll, turn]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

hob•by¹

(ˈhɒb i)

n., pl. -bies.

1. an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation.

2. a child's hobbyhorse.

3. Archaic. a small horse.

[1325–75; Middle English hoby(n), probably for Robin or Robert (compare hob²), used as horse's name, as in dobbin]

hob′by•ist, n.

hob•by²

(ˈhɒb i)

n., pl. -bies.

any of various small, very swift falcons, esp. Falco subbuteo, of Eurasia.

[1400–50; late Middle English hoby < Middle French hobé, suffixal variant of Middle French, Old French hobel]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	hobby - an auxiliary activity avocation, spare-time activity, by-line, pursuit, sideline pastime, pursuit, interest - a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly); "sailing is her favorite pastime"; "his main pastime is gambling"; "he counts reading among his interests"; "they criticized the boy for his limited pursuits" spelaeology, speleology - the pastime of exploring caves
	2.	hobby - a child's plaything consisting of an imitation horse mounted on rockers; the child straddles it and pretends to ride rocking horse, hobbyhorse plaything, toy - an artifact designed to be played with rocker - a curved support that permits the supported object to rock to and fro
	3.	hobby - small Old World falcon formerly trained and flown at small birds Falco subbuteo falcon - diurnal birds of prey having long pointed powerful wings adapted for swift flight Falco, genus Falco - a genus of Falconidae

hobby

noun pastime, relaxation, leisure pursuit, sideline, diversion, avocation, favourite occupation, (leisure) activity My hobbies are letter-writing, football, music, photography, and tennis.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

هِوَايَةٌهِوايَه

hobbykoníček

hobby

Hobby

χόμπι

hobioŝatokupo

pasatiempo afición hobby

harrastusnuolihaukka

passe-temps hobby hobereau fauconviolon d’Ingres

hobi

kabasólyom

áhugamál; tómstundagaman

hobby passatempo

趣味

취미

arkliukashobismedinis arkliukasmėgstama temapamėgta tema

hobijs, vaļasprieks

hobby

хобби

koníček

konjiček

hobby

งานอดิเรก

hobi merak

sở thích

业余爱好

hobby

[ˈhɒbɪ] N (= leisure activity) → hobby m, pasatiempo m favorito
it's just a hobby → es sólo un pasatiempo
he began to paint as a hobby → empezó a pintar como hobby

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

hobby

[ˈhɒbi] n → hobby m
What are your hobbies? → Quels sont tes hobbys?
Her hobby is paragliding → Son hobby c'est le parapente.
to do sth as a hobby → faire qch par hobbyhobby-horse [ˈhɒbihɔː^rs] n

(= toy) (on broom handle) → tête f de cheval (sur un manche) (= rocking horse) → cheval m à bascule

(fig) (= pet subject) → dada mhobnail boot [ˌhɒbneɪlˈbuːt] hobnailed boot [ˌhɒbneɪldˈbuːt] n → chaussure f à semelle cloutée

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

hobby

n → Hobby nt, → Steckenpferd nt (dated)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

hobby

[ˈhɒbɪ] n → hobby m inv, passatempo (preferito)

hobby

(ˈhobi) – plural ˈhobbies – noun

something a person enjoys doing (usually frequently) in his/her spare time and not for pay. Stamp-collecting is a popular hobby.

hobby-horse (also hobbyhorse) noun

1. a stick with a wooden horse's head or a rocking horse as a child's toy.

2. one's favourite topic, idea or project.

hobby

→ هِوَايَةٌ hobby hobby Hobby χόμπι pasatiempo harrastus passe-temps hobi passatempo 趣味 취미 hobby hobby hobby hobby хобби hobby งานอดิเรก hobi sở thích 业余爱好

hobby

n (pl -bies) pasatiempo

References in classic literature ?

And the worst of all hobbies are those that people think they can get money at.

View in context

Roger laughs at me,' and there was a momentary bitterness in the little eerie face; 'but how can one live without hobbies? That's one--then I've two more.

View in context

"My mother is not used to my having visitors who can take any interest in my hobbies," said the Vicar, as he opened the door of his study, which was indeed as bare of luxuries for the body as the ladies had implied, unless a short porcelain pipe and a tobacco-box were to be excepted.

View in context

Owing," he continued slowly, "to my unfortunate affliction, I am obliged to depend for interest in my life upon various hobbies. This little place, queerly enough, has become one of them.

I have just a few hobbies in life which keep me alive.

View in context

All had learned to know her and to love her, for she always interested herself in all their troubles and all their little hobbies.

View in context

When we were young, none of us were "encouraged" to cultivate hobbies.

The problem with hobbies

We never called what she did and what she taught us her children which we still do until today as hobbies. Necessities, were the words we called them.

Tabula Rasa: Art as a hobby

Your hobbies also make you more interesting to people.

Go ahead, indulge your hobbies

PEOPLE stick with hobbies for just 16 months - and blame work, family life and lack of motivation for giving them up.

Why we quit hobbies after only 16mths

Hobbies are very necessary as it makes one busy and free minded.

Hobbies are a boon