Jacob

American  

[jey-kuhb, zha-kawb] / ˈdʒeɪ kəb, ʒaˈkɔb /

noun

1. (in the Bible) the second son of Isaac, the twin brother of Esau, and father of the 12 patriarchs.

2. François 1920–2013, French geneticist: Nobel Prize in Medicine 1965.

3. a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “supplanter.”

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Jacob British  

/ ˈdʒeɪkəb /

noun

1. Old Testament the son of Isaac, twin brother of Esau, and father of the twelve patriarchs of Israel

2. Also called: Jacob sheep.  any of an ancient breed of sheep having a fleece with dark brown patches and two or four horns

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Jacob Scientific  

/ zhä-kôb′ /

1. French geneticist who studied how genes control cellular activity by directing the synthesis of proteins. With Jacques Monod, he theorized that there are genes that regulate the activity of other, neighboring genes. They also proposed the existence of messenger RNA.

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Etymology

Origin of Jacob

sense 2 in allusion to Genesis 30:40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Jacob

He started Arcee in 2023 with Jacob Solawetz and Brian Benedict, not intending to build a foundation model.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

In a five- or seven-game series this October, the Brewers could have started Jacob Misiorowski twice and Skubal twice.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

“We’re basically saying sportsbooks are obsolete. You no longer need to bet against the house,” Chief Executive Jacob Fortinsky said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

Jacob Daniel Terrazas, 31, previously pleaded guilty in January to a misdemeanor count of simple assault on a federal officer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

Hans Jacob had offered the miller four sheep and a milking cow for her hand in marriage.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff