stab
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stab
(stăb)v. stabbed, stab·bing, stabs
v.tr.
1. To pierce or wound with or as if with a pointed weapon.
2. To plunge (a pointed weapon or instrument) into something.
3. To make a thrusting or poking motion at or into: stabbed the air with his fingers.
v.intr.
1. To thrust with or as if with a pointed weapon: stabbed at the food with her fork.
2. To inflict a wound with or as if with a pointed weapon.
n.
Idiom: 1. A thrust with a pointed weapon or instrument.
2. A wound inflicted with or as if with a pointed weapon.
3. A sudden piercing pain.
4. An attempt; a try: made a stab at the answer.
stab (someone) in the back
To harm (someone) by treachery or betrayal of trust.
[Middle English stabben.]
stab′ber n.
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.
stab
(stæb)vb, stabs, stabbing or stabbed
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. (when: intr, 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
a. (verb) to do damage to the reputation of (a person, esp a friend) in a surreptitious way
b. (noun) a treacherous action or remark that causes the downfall of or injury to a person
n
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)
[C14: from stabbe stab wound; probably related to Middle English stob stick]
ˈstabber n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
stab
(stæb)v. stabbed, stab•bing,
n. v.t.
1. to pierce or wound with or as if with a pointed weapon.
2. to thrust or plunge (a knife, pointed weapon, etc.) into something.
3. to make a jabbing or thrusting motion at or in.
v.i. 4. to thrust with or as if with a knife or other pointed weapon.
5. to deliver a wound, as with a pointed weapon.
n. 6. the act of stabbing.
7. a thrust or blow with or as if with a pointed weapon.
8. an attempt; try: to make a stab at an answer.
9. a wound made by stabbing.
10. a sudden, brief, and usu. painful sensation: a stab of pain; a stab of pity.
Idioms: stab in the back,
a. to betray (someone trusting).
b. an act of betraying; treachery.
[1325–75; (v.) Middle English (Scots) stabben, of uncertain orig.]
stab.
1. stabilization.
2. stabilizer.
3. stable.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
stab
Past participle: stabbed
Gerund: stabbing
| Imperative |
|---|
| stab |
| stab |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  stab - a sudden sharp feeling; "pangs of regret"; "she felt a stab of excitement"; "twinges of conscience"feeling - the experiencing of affective and emotional states; "she had a feeling of euphoria"; "he had terrible feelings of guilt"; "I disliked him and the feeling was mutual" guilt pang - pangs of feeling guilty |
| 2. | stab - a strong blow with a knife or other sharp pointed instrument; "one strong stab to the heart killed him" blow - a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon; "a blow on the head" passado, straight thrust, lunge - (fencing) an attacking thrust made with one foot forward and the back leg straight and with the sword arm outstretched forward remise - (fencing) a second thrust made on the same lunge (as when your opponent fails to riposte) | |
| 3. | stab - informal words for any attempt or effort; "he gave it his best shot"; "he took a stab at forecasting" | |
| Verb | 1. | stab - use a knife on; "The victim was knifed to death" injure - cause injuries or bodily harm to poniard - stab with a poniard bayonet - stab or kill someone with a bayonet |
| 2. | stab - stab or pierce; "he jabbed the piece of meat with his pocket knife" thrust - push forcefully; "He thrust his chin forward" | |
| 3. | stab - poke or thrust abruptly; "he jabbed his finger into her ribs" thrust - push forcefully; "He thrust his chin forward" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
stab
verb
noun
stab someone in the back betray, double-cross (informal), sell out (informal), sell, let down, inform on, do the dirty on (Brit. slang), break faith with, play false, give the Judas kiss to She has been stabbed in the back by her supposed `friends'.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
stab
verbnoun1. A small mark or hole made by a sharp, pointed object:
2. A sensation of physical discomfort occurring as the result of disease or injury:
Informal: misery.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
stab
[stæb]A. N
1. (with knife etc) → puñalada f, navajazo m
stab in the back → puñalada f por la espalda, puñalada f encubierta
stab in the back → puñalada f por la espalda, puñalada f encubierta
2. [of pain] → punzada f
B. VT → apuñalar, dar una puñalada a
to stab sb with a knife → apuñalar a algn con un cuchillo
to stab sb in the back (lit) → apuñalar a algn por la espalda (fig) → clavar a algn un puñal por la espalda
to stab sb to death → matar a algn a puñaladas
to stab sb with a knife → apuñalar a algn con un cuchillo
to stab sb in the back (lit) → apuñalar a algn por la espalda (fig) → clavar a algn un puñal por la espalda
to stab sb to death → matar a algn a puñaladas
C. VI to stab at sb → tratar de apuñalar a algn
he stabbed at the picture with his finger → señaló el cuadro con un movimiento brusco del dedo
he stabbed at the picture with his finger → señaló el cuadro con un movimiento brusco del dedo
D. CPD stab wound N → puñalada f
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
stab
(stab) – past tense, past participle stabbed – verb to wound or pierce with a pointed instrument or weapon. He stabbed him (through the heart / in the chest) with a dagger.
noun an act of stabbing or a piercing blow.
ˈstabbing adjective (of pain etc) very acute as though caused by a stab. He complained of a stabbing pain just before he collapsed.
stab (someone) in the back to act treacherously towards (someone).
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
stab
→ apuñalarMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
stab
n. puñalada;
v. apuñalar, acuchillar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
stab
vt acuchillar, apuñalarEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.