Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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name
A book of the Old Testament and the Hebrew Tanakh.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biblical, lifestyle, religion
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A male given name from Hebrew.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A character in the Old Testament and the Qur'an, renowned for his patience.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: Islam, biblical, lifestyle, religion
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: Ayub, Ayoub
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A task.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An economic role for which a person is paid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Synonyms: métier
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Plastic surgery.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A sex act.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A task, or series of tasks, carried out in batch mode (especially on a mainframe computer).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A public transaction done for private profit; something performed ostensibly as a part of official duty, but really for private gain; a corrupt official business.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A robbery or heist.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, informal, uncountable
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Any affair or event which affects one, whether fortunately or unfortunately.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A thing or whatsit (often used in a vague way to refer to something whose name one cannot recall).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: colloquial, countable, uncountable
Synonyms: Sorted by number of Google hits, widget, hickey, gizmo, thingy, gimmick, thingie, jigger, gismo, gubbins, whatsit, thingamajig, doodad, whatchamacallit, doohickey, thingo, thingamabob, thingummy, whatsis, thingumajig, thingumabob, whatchacallit, Sorted alphabetically, affair, bazinga, bizzo, chingadera, dealie, dealy, dinglehopper, dingus, dohickey, dojigger, dongle, doo-hickey, doober, doodah, doofer, doohickus, doohinkey, doohinkus, doojigger, doovalacky, foobar, foo, frammis, frobnitz, gadget, geegaw, gewgaw, gingambob, gingumbob, hodad, hootenanny, jawn, jimbang, jobber, jobby, joint, junk, kajigger, kludge, MacGuffin, oojamaflip, rigamajig, shebang, stuff, thingabob, thingamabobber, thingamafuck, thingamajigger, thingamajiggy, thingmabob, thingmajig, thingmy, thingummabob, thingummajig, thingummyjig, thingum, thingymabob, thingymajig, thing, ting, whachacallit, whachamacallit, whaddayacallit, whatchamahoozie, whatdyecallem, whatdoyoucallit, whatnot, whatsaname, whatsitsname, whiff-whaff, whosiewhatsit, whosit, wossisname, wossname, wotsit, yoke, yokibus
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The police as a profession, act of policing, or an individual police officer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, slang, uncountable
Topics: government, law-enforcement
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Synonym of penis.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, slang, uncountable, vulgar
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: penis
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A sudden thrust or stab; a jab or punch.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A person who shows remarkable patience, especially in the face of great misfortune.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To do odd jobs or occasional work for hire.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To work as a jobber.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To take the loss, usually in a demeaning or submissive manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, slang
Topics: government, hobbies, lifestyle, martial-arts, military, politics, professional-wrestling, sports, war, wrestling
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To buy and sell for profit, as securities; to speculate in.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: business, finance, trading
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To subcontract a project or delivery in small portions to a number of contractors.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: often, transitive
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To seek private gain under pretence of public service; to turn public matters to private advantage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To hire or let in periods of service.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To peck (of a bird); (more generally) to poke or prod (at, into).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, intransitive, regional
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To pierce or poke (someone or something), typically with a sharp or pointed object; to stab.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: jab, run through, chef, chib, ching, chive, enthrill, foin, gore, gride, job, juke, kebab, knifecrime, lancinate, pigstick, pink, poach, shank, shiv, spear, speet, splash, stab, stick, stob, stog, thrust, yerk
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To hit (someone) with a quick, sharp punch; to jab.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Australia, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a damaging piece of work
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: work
noun
the performance of a piece of work
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: work
noun
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: occupation, business, line of work, line
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: activity
Narrower terms: confectionery, sport, farming, land, game, biz, career, calling, vocation, employment, work, appointment, position, post, berth, office, spot, billet, place, situation, treadmill, salt mine, trade, craft, profession, metier, medium, accountancy, accounting, photography, catering
noun
the responsibility to do something
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: duty, responsibility, obligation
noun
a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: task, chore
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: duty
Narrower terms: ball-buster, ball-breaker, stint, scut work, shitwork
noun
a crime (especially a robbery)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: caper
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: robbery
noun
a workplace; as in the expression;
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: workplace, work
noun
an object worked on; a result produced by working
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: product, production
noun
a book in the Old Testament containing Job's pleas to God about his afflictions and God's reply
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: Book of Job
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: book
noun
(computer science) a program application that may consist of several steps but is a single logical unit
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: application, application program, applications programme
noun
any long-suffering person who withstands affliction without despairing
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: unfortunate, unfortunate person
noun
a Jewish hero in the Old Testament who maintained his faith in God in spite of afflictions that tested him
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hero
noun
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: problem
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: difficulty
Narrower terms: race problem, balance-of-payments problem
verb
invest at a risk
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: speculate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: invest, put, commit, place
Narrower terms: bull
verb
work occasionally
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: work, do work
verb
arranged for contracted work to be done by others
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: subcontract, farm out
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hire, engage, employ
verb
profit privately from public office and official business
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: cheat, chisel
History
From Latin Iob, from Ancient Greek Ἰώβ (Iṓb), from Biblical Hebrew אִיּוֹב (ʾiyyōḇ), related to אָיַב (ʾāyaḇ, “to be an enemy”) and אוֹיֵב (ʾōyēḇ, “enemy”).
From the phrase jobbe of work (“piece of work”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from a variant of Middle English gobbe (“mass, lump”); or perhaps related to Middle English jobben (“to jab, thrust, peck”), or Middle English choppe (“piece, bargain”). More at gob, jab, chop.
Imitative.
Across languages
494 source translations are retained for this English entry.
