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hobby

1
[ hob-ee ]
/ ˈhɒb i /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR hobby ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural hob·bies.

an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation: Her hobbies include stamp-collecting and woodcarving.
a child's hobbyhorse.
Archaic. a small horse.

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Idioms for hobby

    ride a hobby, to concern oneself excessively with a favorite notion or activity.Also ride a hobbyhorse.

Origin of hobby

1
1325–75; Middle English hoby(n), probably for Robin, or Robert (cf. hob2), used as horse's name, as in dobbin

OTHER WORDS FROM hobby

hob·by·ist, nounhob·by·less, adjective

Words nearby hobby

hobble, hobble skirt, hobblebush, hobbledehoy, hobbs, hobby, hobby farmer, hobbyhorse, hobday, hobgoblin, hobnail

Definition for hobbies (2 of 2)

hobby2
[ hob-ee ]
/ ˈhɒb i /

noun, plural hob·bies.

a small Old World falcon, Falco subbuteo, formerly flown at such small game as larks.

Origin of hobby

2
1400–50; late Middle English hoby < Middle French hobé, suffixal variant of Middle French, Old French hobel (compare French hobereau), probably noun derivative of hobeler to skirmish, harass, perhaps < Middle Dutch hob(b)elen to turn, roll; compare Dutch hobbelen to rock, jolt (cf. hobble)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to hobbies

art, specialty, avocation, diversion, craft, amusement, fun, sport, obsession, fad, occupation, play, sideline, shot, vagary, thing, weakness, whimsy, fancy, bag

Example sentences from the Web for hobbies

British Dictionary definitions for hobbies (1 of 2)

hobby1
/ (ˈhɒbɪ) /

noun plural -bies

an activity pursued in spare time for pleasure or relaxation
archaic, or dialect a small horse or pony
short for hobbyhorse (def. 1)
an early form of bicycle, without pedals

Derived forms of hobby

hobbyist, noun

Word Origin for hobby

C14 hobyn, probably variant of proper name Robin; compare dobbin

British Dictionary definitions for hobbies (2 of 2)

hobby2
/ (ˈhɒbɪ) /

noun plural -bies

any of several small Old World falcons, esp the European Falco subbuteo, formerly used in falconry

Word Origin for hobby

C15: from Old French hobet, from hobe falcon; probably related to Middle Dutch hobbelen to roll, turn
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