jab

American  

[jab] / dʒæb /

verb (used with object)

jabbed, jabbing

1. to poke, or thrust abruptly or sharply, as with the end or point of a stick or with the finger or elbow.

2. to punch with a short, quick blow.

3. Informal. to give (a person) a hypodermic injection, especially of a vaccine: I jab myself with insulin twice a day.

   Here’s a list of the countries you can visit if you haven’t been jabbed.

   I jab myself with insulin twice a day.

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verb (used without object)

jabbed, jabbing

1. to poke or punch with a sharp, quick blow.

noun

1. a poke with the end or point of something; a sharp, quick thrust.

2. a short, quick punch.

3. Informal. a hypodermic injection, especially of a vaccine.

   Have you gotten your flu jab yet?

4. Informal. an abrupt insult or critical remark.

   That guy has no problem responding with a sarcastic jab.

5. a sudden and unpleasant sensation or emotion: He knew she was happier now, but he still felt the slightest jab of guilt.

   I have jabs of pain, numbness, and tingling in my fingers.

   He knew she was happier now, but he still felt the slightest jab of guilt.

jab British  

/ dʒæb /

verb

1. to poke or thrust sharply

2. to strike with a quick short blow or blows

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noun

1. a sharp poke or stab

2. a quick short blow, esp (in boxing) a straight punch with the leading hand

3. informal an injection

   polio jabs

Other Word Forms

• jabbing adjective
• jabbingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of jab

First recorded in 1825–35; variant, originally Scots, of job ²

Example Sentences

He's lost more than four stone using weight-loss jabs since June.

From BBC

The artist and buyer were nonconformists, jabbing at, well, something.

From The Wall Street Journal

He has also referred to Canada as "the 51st state" — a jab that has been met with a mix of anxiety and an uncharactaristically fierce display of patriotism.

From BBC

She was then advised to go to A&E to get a tetanus jab and for someone to assess the wound.

From BBC

He gave my ribs a playful jab with his elbow.

From Literature

Related Words

• dig
• punch