hob

¹ American  

[hob] / hɒb /

noun

1. a projection or shelf at the back or side of a fireplace, used for keeping food warm.

2. a rounded peg or pin used as a target in quoits and similar games.

3. a game in which such a peg is used.

4. Machinery. a milling cutter for gear and sprocket teeth, splines, threads, etc., having helically arranged teeth and fed across the work as the work is rotated.

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verb (used with or without object)

hobbed, hobbing

1. Machinery. to cut with a hob.

hob ² American  

[hob] / hɒb /

noun

1. a hobgoblin or elf.

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idioms

1. raise hob, to cause a destructive commotion; behave disruptively.

   They raised such hob with their antagonistic questions that the meeting broke up.

2. play hob with, to do mischief or harm to.

   The child played hob with my radio, and now it won't work at all.

hob ¹ British  

/ hɒb /

noun

1. the flat top part of a cooking stove, or a separate flat surface, containing hotplates or burners

2. a shelf beside an open fire, for keeping kettles, etc, hot

3. a steel pattern used in forming a mould or die in cold metal

4. a hard steel rotating cutting tool used in machines for cutting gears

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verb

1. (tr) to cut or form with a hob

hob ² British  

/ hɒb /

noun

1. a hobgoblin or elf

2. a male ferret

3. informal to cause mischief or disturbance

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Other Word Forms

• hobber noun
• hoblike adjective

Etymology

Origin of hob¹

First recorded in 1505–15; variant of obsolete hub “hob (in a fireplace)”; perhaps identical with hub

Origin of hob²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, special use of Hob(be), for Robert or Robin

Example Sentences

The company's boats have central heating, flush toilets, and hot and cold running water, as well as hobs, grills, ovens and fridges.

From BBC

The BBC investigation from within four unnamed asylum hotels also uncovered cramped living conditions, and smoke alarms covered with plastic bags as residents used electric hobs in their showers to cook.

From BBC

Pans are precariously placed on a hob and she is stirring away.

From BBC

She said: "She was majorly confused it was like the wires were getting crossed in her brain. She would make cold cups of tea and iron shirts on top of the hob."

From BBC

Microwaves, air fryers and some hobs and ovens all demand electricity.

From BBC

Related Words

• gnome
• goblin
• imp
• leprechaun