gig
1[ gig ]
/ gɪg /
noun
a single professional engagement of one or more performers, especially of jazz or rock musicians: His band has a gig at a club in New Jersey.
a live performance, as on a stage: I went to see my friend's comedy gig.
any job, especially one of short or uncertain duration: Years ago he had a teaching gig out west somewhere.
adjective
relating to or being a job of short or uncertain duration: Gig workers don't receive benefits such as health insurance.
verb (used without object), gigged, gig·ging.
to work as a musician or other performer, especially in a single engagement: That vocalist has gigged with some of the biggest names in the business.
to work at any job, especially one of short or uncertain duration: He gigs as a clown at children’s birthday parties.
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Origin of gig
1First recorded in 1925–30; origin uncertain
Words nearby gig
gift voucher, giftware, gift-wrap, giftwrapping, Gifu, gig, giga-, gigabit, gigabyte, gigacycle, gigaelectron volt
Definition for gig (2 of 5)
Definition for gig (3 of 5)
gig3
[ gig ]
/ gɪg /
noun
verb (used without object), gigged, gig·ging.
to ride in a gig.
to raise the nap on (a fabric).
Origin of gig
3First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English gigge, gig “flighty girl, loose woman; awkward or boorish man”; akin to Danish gig “top”; compare Norwegian giga “to shake about”
Definition for gig (4 of 5)
gig4
[ gig ]
/ gɪg /
noun
a device, commonly four hooks secured back to back, for dragging through a school of fish to hook them through the body.
a spearlike device with a long, thick handle, used for spearing fish and frogs.
verb (used with object), gigged, gig·ging.
to catch or spear (a fish or frog) with a gig.
verb (used without object), gigged, gig·ging.
to catch fish or frogs with a gig.
Definition for gig (5 of 5)
gig5
[ gig ]
/ gɪg /
noun
an official report of a minor infraction of regulations, as in school or the army; a demerit.
a punishment for a minor infraction of rules.
verb (used with object), gigged, gig·ging.
to give a gig to or punish with a gig.
Origin of gig
5First recorded in 1940–45; origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for gig
British Dictionary definitions for gig (1 of 4)
gig1
/ (ɡɪɡ) /
noun
a light two-wheeled one-horse carriage without a hood
nautical a light tender for a vessel, often for the personal use of the captain
a long light rowing boat, used esp for racing
a machine for raising the nap of a fabric
verb gigs, gigging or gigged
(intr) to travel in a gig
(tr) to raise the nap of (fabric)
Word Origin for gig
C13 (in the sense: flighty girl, spinning top): perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish gig top, Norwegian giga to shake about
British Dictionary definitions for gig (2 of 4)
gig2
/ (ɡɪɡ) /
noun
a cluster of barbless hooks drawn through a shoal of fish to try to impale them
short for fishgig
verb gigs, gigging or gigged
to catch (fish) with a gig
Word Origin for gig
C18: shortened from fishgig
British Dictionary definitions for gig (3 of 4)
gig3
/ (ɡɪɡ) informal /
noun
a job, esp a single booking for a musician, comedian, etc, to perform at a concert or club
the performance itself
verb gigs, gigging or gigged
(intr) to perform at a gig or gigs
Word Origin for gig
C20: of unknown origin
British Dictionary definitions for gig (4 of 4)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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