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View synonyms for bob

bob

1

[ bob ]

noun

  1. a short, jerky motion:

    a bob of the head.



verb (used with object)

, bobbed, bob·bing.
  1. to move quickly down and up:

    to bob the head.

  2. to indicate with such a motion:

    to bob a greeting.

verb (used without object)

, bobbed, bob·bing.
  1. to make a jerky motion with the head or body.
  2. to move about with jerky, usually rising and falling motions:

    The ball bobbed upon the waves.

verb phrase

  1. to emerge or appear, especially unexpectedly:

    A familiar face bobbed up in the crowd.

bob

2

[ bob ]

noun

  1. a style of short haircut for women and children.
  2. a docked horse's tail.
  3. a dangling or terminal object, as the weight on a pendulum or a plumb line.
  4. a short, simple line in a verse or song, especially a short refrain or coda.
  5. Angling.
    1. a knot of worms, rags, etc., on a string.
    2. a float for a fishing line.
  6. a bobsled or bob skate.
  7. Scot. a bunch, cluster, or wad, especially a small bouquet of flowers.
  8. Obsolete. walking beam.

verb (used with object)

, bobbed, bob·bing.
  1. to cut short; dock:

    They bobbed their hair to be in style.

verb (used without object)

, bobbed, bob·bing.
  1. to try to snatch floating or dangling objects with the teeth:

    to bob for apples.

  2. Angling. to fish with a bob.

bob

3

[ bob ]

noun

  1. a tap; light blow.
  2. a polishing wheel of leather, felt, or the like.

verb (used with object)

, bobbed, bob·bing.
  1. to tap; strike lightly.

bob

4

[ bob ]

noun

, British Informal.
, plural bob.
  1. a shilling.

Bob

5

[ bob ]

noun

  1. a first name, form of Robert.

bob

1

/ bɒb /

verb

  1. to tap or cause to tap or knock lightly (against)
“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


noun

  1. a light knock; tap
“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

2

/ bɒb /

noun

  1. (formerly) an informal word for a shilling
“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

3

/ bɒb /

verb

  1. to move or cause to move up and down repeatedly, as while floating in water
  2. to move or cause to move with a short abrupt movement, as of the head
  3. to make (a bow or curtsy)

    the little girl bobbed before the visitor

  4. intrusually foll byup to appear or emerge suddenly
  5. intr; foll by under, below, etc to disappear suddenly, as beneath a surface
  6. intrusually foll byfor to attempt to get hold (of a floating or hanging object, esp an apple) in the teeth as a game
“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

noun

  1. a short abrupt movement, as of the head
  2. a quick curtsy or bow
  3. Leisure:Bell-ringing a particular set of changes
  4. angling
    1. short for bobfloat
    2. the topmost fly on a cast of three, often fished bobbing at the surface
    3. this position on a wet-fly cast
“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

4

/ bɒb /

noun

  1. a hairstyle for women and children in which the hair is cut short evenly all round the head
  2. a dangling or hanging object, such as the weight on a pendulum or on a plumb line
  3. a polishing disc on a rotating spindle. It is usually made of felt, leather, etc, impregnated with an abrasive material
  4. short for bob skate bobsleigh
  5. a runner or pair of runners on a bobsled
  6. angling a small knot of worms, maggots, etc, used as bait
  7. 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
  8. a refrain or burden with such a short line or lines
  9. a docked tail, esp of a horse
  10. dialect.
    a hanging cluster, as of flowers or ribbons
“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

verb

  1. tr to cut (the hair) in a bob
  2. tr to cut short (something, esp the tail of an animal); dock or crop
  3. intr to ride on a bobsled
“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

5

/ bɒb /

noun

  1. Bob's your uncle slang.
    everything is or will turn out all right
“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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bob1

First recorded in 1400–50, bob is from the late Middle English word bobben. See bob 2

Origin of bob2

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

Origin of bob3

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bobben “to strike, beat,” perhaps imitative; bop 2

Origin of bob4

First recorded in 1780–90; origin unknown; perhaps from Bob
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bob1

C13 bobben to rap, beat; see bop ²

Origin of bob2

C19: of unknown origin

Origin of bob3

C14: of uncertain origin

Origin of bob4

C14 bobbe bunch of flowers, perhaps of Celtic origin

Origin of bob5

C19: perhaps from pet form of Robert
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Example Sentences

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.

From Fortune

Bob is outside the other lab, and inside is his friend Debbie.

At that point, Alice and Bob randomly choose between one of two different measurements, measure the particle, and jot down the result.

Another similar contest, which provided the “American Rung Association” example today that Bob chose to illustrate, dates from Christmas season of 2012, Week 977.

Imagine two people, Alice and Bob, moving apart at high speed.

When they get someone high profile, like the governor [Bob McDonnell] or like Teresa, they will abuse their positions.

But the title of Best Death definitely belongs to Bob Stookey, who got bitten by a zombie then captured by cannibals.

Bob Cratchit, the clerk who is the father of Tiny Tim and who meekly serves Scrooge, is paid fifteen shillings a week.

This performance of Bob Dylan's 1971 blues tune features Clapton on guitar.

Promo shots for Dee Dee King, taken by famed rock photographer Bob Gruen, are also on display at the Storefront Gallery.

In treble, second and fourth, the first change is a dodge behind; and the second time the treble leads, there's a double Bob.

There lay Bob Rock, covered with blood, and apparently insensible.

There was a slight shuddering movement of his whole frame—Bob was dead.

It may also be made the change next before the single bob, in which change it may be made two wayes; viz.

The half hunt is alwayes one of the two hindmost bells which makes every bob-change.

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