stab
to pierce or wound with or as if with a pointed weapon: She stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork.
to thrust, plunge, or jab (a knife, pointed weapon, or the like) into something: He stabbed the knife into the man's chest.
to penetrate sharply or painfully: Their misery stabbed his conscience.
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.
to thrust with or as if with a knife or other pointed weapon: to stab at an attacker.
to deliver a wound, as with a pointed weapon.
Idioms about stab
a stab in the back, an act of treachery.
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.
Origin of stab
1Other words for stab
Other words from stab
- re·stab, verb, re·stabbed, re·stab·bing.
- un·stabbed, adjective
Other definitions for stab. (2 of 2)
stabilization.
stabilizer.
stable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for stab
/ (stæb) /
(tr) to pierce or injure with a sharp pointed instrument
(tr) (of a sharp pointed instrument) to pierce or wound: the knife stabbed her hand
(when intr , often foll by at) to make a thrust (at); jab: he stabbed at the doorway
(tr) to inflict with a sharp pain
stab in the back
(verb) to do damage to the reputation of (a person, esp a friend) in a surreptitious way
(noun) a treacherous action or remark that causes the downfall of or injury to a person
the act or an instance of stabbing
an injury or rift made by stabbing
a sudden sensation, esp an unpleasant one: a stab of pity
informal an attempt (esp in the phrase make a stab at)
Origin of stab
1Derived forms of stab
- stabber, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with stab
In addition to the idiom beginning with stab
- stab in the back, a
also see:
- make a stab at
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse