boss

[ baws, bos ]

/ bɔs, bɒs /

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See synonyms for: boss / bosses on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person who employs or superintends workers; manager.

a politician who controls the party organization, as in a particular district.

a person who makes decisions, exercises authority, dominates, etc.: My grandfather was the boss in his family.

(in a video game or role-playing game) a powerful nonplayer character, often appearing at the end of a level or at the end of the game, who must be defeated in order for a player to move on to a new level or to win the game (often used attributively): Is there a trick to beating the final boss?Your objective for this boss-level event is to survive several waves of zombie attacks.

verb (used with object)

to be master of or over; manage; direct; control.

to order about, especially in an arrogant manner.

verb (used without object)

to be boss.

to be too domineering and authoritative.

adjective

chief; master.

Slang. first-rate.

OTHER WORDS FOR boss

1 supervisor, head, foreman, chief, superintendent, administrator, overseer.

See synonyms for boss on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of boss

An Americanism dating from 1640–50; from Dutch baas “master, foreman”

Other definitions for boss (2 of 4)

boss²

[ baws, bos ]

/ bɔs, bɒs /

noun

Botany, Zoology. a protuberance or roundish excrescence on the body or on some organ of an animal or plant.

Geology. a knoblike mass of rock, especially an outcrop of igneous or metamorphic rock.

an ornamental protuberance of metal, ivory, etc.; stud.

Architecture.

an ornamental, knoblike projection, as a carved keystone at the intersection of ogives.
a stone roughly formed and set in place for later carving.

Bookbinding. one of several pieces of brass or other metal inset into the cover of a book to protect the corners or edges or for decoration.

Machinery. a small projection on a casting or forging.

Nautical. a projecting part in a ship's hull, or in one frame of a hull, fitting around a propeller shaft.

verb (used with object)

to ornament with bosses.

to emboss.

(in plumbing) to hammer (sheet metal, as lead) to conform to an irregular surface.

Origin of boss

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English boce, from Anglo-French: “lump, growth, boil”; Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin bottia, of uncertain origin

Other definitions for boss (3 of 4)

boss³

[ bos, baws ]

/ bɒs, bɔs /

noun

a familiar name for a calf or cow.

Origin of boss

An Americanism first recorded in 1790–1800; compare dialectal (southwest England) borse, boss, buss “six-month-old calf”

Other definitions for boss (4 of 4)

boss⁴

[ bos ]

/ bɒs /

adjective Scot.

hollow; empty.

Origin of boss

⁴

First recorded in 1505–15; of obscure origin

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

How to use boss in a sentence

“A guy drives up in a 2008 Mercedes, brand new,” Harry S. Connelly Jr. says in the video, according to the Times.
Are Police Stealing People’s Property?|Joan Blades, Matt Kibbe|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“Personal hotspots can get speeds of up to 60 Mb/s down, whereas hotel Wi-Fi can be as slow as 1.5 Mb/s,” Sesar said.
How ‘Ethical’ Hotel Chain Marriott Gouges Guests in the Name of Wi-Fi Security|Kyle Chayka|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In our headlong quest for a legally perfect society, we don’t take the time to take stock of what‘s been created so far.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Based on the hat he had created for himself, Stetson made a version called “The Boss of the Plains.”
My Love Letter to the Stetson|Mark McKinnon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

NBC News boss Deborah Turness abruptly ousted the ‘Meet the Press’ host four months ago.
David Gregory's 'Meet the Press' Eviction Exposed in Washingtonian Takedown|Lloyd Grove|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ajoutez cecy, s'il vous plaist, la grande difficult qu'il y a de tirer d'eux les mots mesmes qu'ils ont.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Neantmoins le vieil Membertou, pere du malade, conceut asss l'affaire, et me promit qu'on s'arresteroit tout ce que j'en dirois.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
En effet un soir, sa femme et enfans l'abandonnerent entierement, et s'en allerent cabaner ailleurs, pensant que c'en estoit vuid.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Mrs. S. said she was familiar with it from having heard Thomas's orchestra play it in New York.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
C'est asss demeur la maison; sortons un peu dehors, comme nous avons promis de faire, et racontons ce qui s'est pass par le pays.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various

British Dictionary definitions for boss (1 of 4)

boss¹

/ (bɒs) informal /

noun

a person in charge of or employing others

mainly US a professional politician who controls a party machine or political organization, often using devious or illegal methods

verb

to employ, supervise, or be in charge of

(usually foll by around or about) to be domineering or overbearing towards (others)

adjective

slang excellent; finea boss hand at carpentry; that's boss!

Word Origin for boss

C19: from Dutch baas master; probably related to Old High German basa aunt, Frisian baes master

British Dictionary definitions for boss (2 of 4)

boss²

/ (bɒs) /

noun

a knob, stud, or other circular rounded protuberance, esp an ornamental one on a vault, a ceiling, or a shield

biology any of various protuberances or swellings in plants and animals

an area of increased thickness, usually cylindrical, that strengthens or provides room for a locating device on a shaft, hub of a wheel, etc
a similar projection around a hole in a casting or fabricated component

an exposed rounded mass of igneous or metamorphic rock, esp the uppermost part of an underlying batholith

verb (tr)

to ornament with bosses; emboss

Word Origin for boss

C13: from Old French boce, from Vulgar Latin bottia (unattested); related to Italian bozza metal knob, swelling

British Dictionary definitions for boss (3 of 4)

boss³

bossy

/ (bɒs) /

noun plural bosses or bossies

a calf or cow

Word Origin for boss

C19: from dialect buss calf, perhaps ultimately from Latin bōs cow, ox

British Dictionary definitions for boss (4 of 4)

BOSS

/ (bɒs) /

n acronym for (formerly)

Bureau of State Security; a branch of the South African security police

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

boss

OTHER WORDS FOR boss

Origin of boss

Other definitions for boss (2 of 4)

Origin of boss

Other definitions for boss (3 of 4)

Origin of boss

Other definitions for boss (4 of 4)

Origin of boss

Words related to boss

How to use boss in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for boss (1 of 4)

Word Origin for boss

British Dictionary definitions for boss (2 of 4)

Word Origin for boss

British Dictionary definitions for boss (3 of 4)

bossy

Word Origin for boss

British Dictionary definitions for boss (4 of 4)