hobby
1[ hob-ee ]
/ ˈhɒb i /
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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 about hobby
ride a hobby, to concern oneself excessively with a favorite notion or activity.Also ride a hobbyhorse.
Origin of hobby
1OTHER WORDS FROM hobby
hob·by·ist, nounhob·by·less, adjectiveOther definitions for hobby (2 of 3)
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
21400–50; 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)
Other definitions for hobby (3 of 3)
Hobby
[ hob-ee ]
/ ˈhɒb i /
noun
Oveta Culp [kuhlp], /kʌlp/, 1905–1995, U.S. newspaper publisher and government official: first director of Women's Army Corps 1942–45; first Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare 1953–55.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use hobby in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for hobby (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, nounWord Origin for hobby
C14 hobyn, probably variant of proper name Robin; compare dobbin
British Dictionary definitions for hobby (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
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