bob

[ bob ]

/ bɒb /

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noun

a short, jerky motion: a bob of the head.

verb (used with object), bobbed, bob·bing.

to move quickly down and up: to bob the head.

to indicate with such a motion: to bob a greeting.

verb (used without object), bobbed, bob·bing.

to make a jerky motion with the head or body.

to move about with jerky, usually rising and falling motions: The ball bobbed upon the waves.

Verb Phrases

bob up, to emerge or appear, especially unexpectedly: A familiar face bobbed up in the crowd.

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Origin of bob

First recorded in 1400–50, bob is from the late Middle English word bobben.See bob²

Words nearby bob

boat train, boatwright, boatyard, Boa Vista, Boaz, bob, Bobadilla, boba tea, bobbejaan, bobber, bobbery

Other definitions for bob (2 of 5)

bob²

[ bob ]

/ bɒb /

noun

a style of short haircut for women and children.

a docked horse's tail.

a dangling or terminal object, as the weight on a pendulum or a plumb line.

a short, simple line in a verse or song, especially a short refrain or coda.

Angling.

a knot of worms, rags, etc., on a string.
a float for a fishing line.

a bobsled or bob skate.

Scot. a bunch, cluster, or wad, especially a small bouquet of flowers.

Obsolete. walking beam.

verb (used with object), bobbed, bob·bing.

to cut short; dock: They bobbed their hair to be in style.

verb (used without object), bobbed, bob·bing.

to try to snatch floating or dangling objects with the teeth: to bob for apples.

Angling. to fish with a bob.

Origin of bob

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bobbe (noun) “spray, cluster, bunch (of leaves, flowers, fruit, etc.)”; of uncertain origin

Other definitions for bob (3 of 5)

bob³

[ bob ]

/ bɒb /

noun

a tap; light blow.

a polishing wheel of leather, felt, or the like.

verb (used with object), bobbed, bob·bing.

to tap; strike lightly.

Origin of bob

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bobben “to strike, beat,” perhaps imitative; see bop²

Other definitions for bob (4 of 5)

bob⁴

[ bob ]

/ bɒb /

noun, plural bob.British Informal.

a shilling.

Origin of bob

⁴

First recorded in 1780–90; origin unknown; perhaps from Bob

Other definitions for bob (5 of 5)

Bob

[ bob ]

/ bɒb /

noun

a male given name, form of Robert.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bob in a sentence

Bob and Bryan have been sharing their thoughts with us for years and, as strange and chaotic as 2020 was, this year is no different.
What happens next: 10 non-COVID health care predictions for 2021|Sy Mukherjee|December 10, 2020|Fortune
Bob is outside the other lab, and inside is his friend Debbie.
A New Theorem Maps Out the Limits of Quantum Physics|Anil Ananthaswamy|December 3, 2020|Quanta Magazine
At that point, Alice and Bob randomly choose between one of two different measurements, measure the particle, and jot down the result.
A New Theorem Maps Out the Limits of Quantum Physics|Anil Ananthaswamy|December 3, 2020|Quanta Magazine
Another similar contest, which provided the “American Rung Association” example today that Bob chose to illustrate, dates from Christmas season of 2012, Week 977.
Style Conversational Week 1408: What’s wrong with this picture|Pat Myers|October 29, 2020|Washington Post

Imagine two people, Alice and Bob, moving apart at high speed.
Quantum Tunnels Show How Particles Can Break the Speed of Light|Natalie Wolchover|October 20, 2020|Quanta Magazine
When they get someone high profile, like the governor [Bob McDonnell] or like Teresa, they will abuse their positions.
How a ‘Real Housewife’ Survives Prison: ‘I Don’t See [Teresa Giudice] Having a Cakewalk Here’|Michael Howard|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the title of Best Death definitely belongs to Bob Stookey, who got bitten by a zombie then captured by cannibals.
The Red Viper, Zoe Barnes, and the Best Fictional Deaths of 2014|Melissa Leon|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Bob Cratchit, the clerk who is the father of Tiny Tim and who meekly serves Scrooge, is paid fifteen shillings a week.
How Dickens and Scrooge Saved Christmas|Clive Irving|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This performance of Bob Dylan's 1971 blues tune features Clapton on guitar.
Joe Cocker's Deep Live Cuts|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Promo shots for Dee Dee King, taken by famed rock photographer Bob Gruen, are also on display at the Storefront Gallery.
‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings|Melissa Leon|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In treble, second and fourth, the first change is a dodge behind; and the second time the treble leads, there's a double Bob.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman
There lay Bob Rock, covered with blood, and apparently insensible.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
There was a slight shuddering movement of his whole frame—Bob was dead.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
It may also be made the change next before the single bob, in which change it may be made two wayes; viz.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman
The half hunt is alwayes one of the two hindmost bells which makes every bob-change.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman

British Dictionary definitions for bob (1 of 5)

bob¹

/ (bɒb) /

verb bobs, bobbing or bobbed

to move or cause to move up and down repeatedly, as while floating in water

to move or cause to move with a short abrupt movement, as of the head

to make (a bow or curtsy)the little girl bobbed before the visitor

(intr usually foll by up) to appear or emerge suddenly

(intr; foll by under, below, etc) to disappear suddenly, as beneath a surface

(intr usually foll by for) to attempt to get hold (of a floating or hanging object, esp an apple) in the teeth as a game

noun

a short abrupt movement, as of the head

a quick curtsy or bow

bell-ringing a particular set of changes

angling

short for bobfloat
the topmost fly on a cast of three, often fished bobbing at the surface
this position on a wet-fly cast

Word Origin for bob

C14: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for bob (2 of 5)

bob²

/ (bɒb) /

noun

a hairstyle for women and children in which the hair is cut short evenly all round the head

a dangling or hanging object, such as the weight on a pendulum or on a plumb line

a polishing disc on a rotating spindle. It is usually made of felt, leather, etc, impregnated with an abrasive material

short for bob skate, bobsleigh

a runner or pair of runners on a bobsled

angling a small knot of worms, maggots, etc, used as bait

a very short line of verse at the end of a stanza or preceding a rhyming quatrain (the wheel) at the end of a stanza

a refrain or burden with such a short line or lines

a docked tail, esp of a horse

British dialect a hanging cluster, as of flowers or ribbons

verb bobs, bobbing or bobbed

(tr) to cut (the hair) in a bob

(tr) to cut short (something, esp the tail of an animal); dock or crop

(intr) to ride on a bobsled

Word Origin for bob

C14 bobbe bunch of flowers, perhaps of Celtic origin

British Dictionary definitions for bob (3 of 5)

bob³

/ (bɒb) /

verb bobs, bobbing or bobbed

to tap or cause to tap or knock lightly (against)

noun

a light knock; tap

Word Origin for bob

C13 bobben to rap, beat; see bop ²

British Dictionary definitions for bob (4 of 5)

bob⁴

/ (bɒb) /

noun plural bob

British (formerly) an informal word for a shilling (def. 1)

Word Origin for bob

C19: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for bob (5 of 5)

Bob

/ (bɒb) /

noun

Bob's your uncle slang everything is or will turn out all right

Word Origin for Bob

C19: perhaps from pet form of Robert

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

bob

Origin of bob

Words nearby bob

Other definitions for bob (2 of 5)

Origin of bob

Other definitions for bob (3 of 5)

Origin of bob

Other definitions for bob (4 of 5)

Origin of bob

Other definitions for bob (5 of 5)

Words related to bob

How to use bob in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bob (1 of 5)

Word Origin for bob

British Dictionary definitions for bob (2 of 5)

Word Origin for bob

British Dictionary definitions for bob (3 of 5)

Word Origin for bob

British Dictionary definitions for bob (4 of 5)

Word Origin for bob

British Dictionary definitions for bob (5 of 5)

Word Origin for Bob