Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense stabs, present participle stabbing, past tense, past participle stabbed
1. verb
If someone stabs you, they push a knife or sharp object into your body.
Somebody stabbed him in the stomach. [VERB noun]
Dean tried to stab him with a screwdriver. [VERB noun]
Stephen was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack nearly five months ago. [VERB + to]
Synonyms: pierce, cut, gore, run through More Synonyms of stab
2. verb
If you stab something or stab at it, you push at it with your finger or with something pointed that you are holding.
Bess stabbed a slice of cucumber. [VERB noun]
Goldstone flipped through the pages and stabbed his thumb at the paragraph he waslooking for. [VERB noun + at]
He stabbed at the omelette with his fork. [VERB + at]
Synonyms: jab, poke, prod, thrust More Synonyms of stab
3. singular noun
If you have a stab at something, you try to do it.
[informal]
Several tennis stars have had a stab at acting.
Synonyms: attempt, go [informal], try, shot [informal] More Synonyms of stab
4. singular noun
You can refer to a sudden, usually unpleasant feeling as a stab of that feeling.
[literary]
...a stab of pain just above his eye. [+ of]
She felt a stab of pity for him. [+ of]
Synonyms: twinge, prick, pang, ache More Synonyms of stab
5.
See stab someone in the back
6. a stab in the dark
More Synonyms of stab
stab in British English
(stæb)
verbWord forms: stabs, stabbing or stabbed
1. (transitive)
to pierce or injure with a sharp pointed instrument
2. (transitive)
(of a sharp pointed instrument) to pierce or wound
the knife stabbed her hand
3. (whenintr, often foll by at)
to make a thrust (at); jab
he stabbed at the doorway
4. (transitive)
to inflict with a sharp pain
5. stab in the back
noun
6.
the act or an instance of stabbing
7.
an injury or rift made by stabbing
8.
a sudden sensation, esp an unpleasant one
a stab of pity
9. informal
an attempt (esp in the phrase make a stab at)
Derived forms
stabber (ˈstabber)
noun
Word origin
C14: from stabbe stab wound; probably related to Middle English stob stick
stab in American English
(stæb)
noun
1.
a wound made by piercing with a knife, dagger, or other pointed weapon
2.
a thrust, as with a knife or dagger
3.
a sudden sensation of anguish or pain
verb transitiveWord forms: stabbed or ˈstabbing
4.
to pierce or wound with or as with a knife, etc.
5.
to thrust or plunge (a knife, etc.) into something
6.
to go into in a sharp, thrusting way
verb intransitive
7.
to make a thrust or piercing wound with or as with a knife
8.
to feel like a knife stabbing
said of pain
Idioms:
make a stab at
stab in the back
Derived forms
stabber (ˈstabber)
noun
Word origin
ME stabbe, prob. < stobbe, var. of stubbe, stub
More idioms containing
stab
stab someone in the back
In other languages
stab
British English: stab /stæb/ VERB
If someone stabs another person, they push a knife into their body.
He was stabbed to death.
American English: stab
Arabic: يَطْعَنُ
Brazilian Portuguese: apunhalar
Chinese: 刺伤
Croatian: izbosti
Czech: bodnout nožem
Danish: stikke
Dutch: neersteken
European Spanish: apuñalar
Finnish: puukottaa
French: poignarder
German: stechen
Greek: μαχαιρώνω
Italian: accoltellare
Japanese: 突き刺す
Korean: 찌르다
Norwegian: stikke
Polish: pchnąć nożem
European Portuguese: apunhalar
Romanian: a înjunghia
Russian: колоть
Latin American Spanish: apuñalar
Swedish: knivhugga
Thai: แทง
Turkish: bıçaklamak
Ukrainian: заколоти
Vietnamese: đâm bằng dao
British English: stab NOUN
If you have a stab at something, you try to do it.
Several tennis stars have had a stab at acting.
American English: stab
Brazilian Portuguese: tentativa
Chinese: 尝试
European Spanish: intento
French: tentative
German: Versuch
Italian: tentativo
Japanese: 試み
Korean: 시도
European Portuguese: tentativa
Latin American Spanish: intento
All related terms of 'stab'
stab kick
a rapid kick of the ball from one player to another member of his or her team
stab pass
a rapid kick of the ball from one player to another member of his or her team
stab wound
A stab wound is a wound that someone has when they have been stabbed with a knife.
make a stab at
to make an attempt at
stab in the back
to do damage to the reputation of (a person, esp a friend) in a surreptitious way
stab someone in the back
If you say that someone has stabbed you in the back , you mean that they have done something very harmful to you when you thought that you could trust them. You can refer to an action of this kind as a stab in the back .
a shot in the dark a stab in the dark
If you describe something someone says or does as a shot in the dark or a stab in the dark , you mean they are guessing that what they say is correct or that what they do will be successful .
Chinese translation of 'stab'
stab
(stæb)
vt
[person]刺 (cì)
vi
戳 (chuō)
n
(c) (with knife etc) 刺 (cì)
a stab of pain/pity/jealousy一阵(陣)疼痛/怜(憐)悯(憫)/嫉妒 (yī zhèn téngtòng/liánmǐn/jídù)
to have a stab at (doing) sth (inf) 试(試)图(圖)(做)某事 (shìtú (zuò) mǒushì)
to stab sb to death刺死某人 (cìsǐ mǒurén)
to stab sb in the back (fig) 暗箭伤(傷)人 (ànjiàn shāng rén)
to stab sth with sth用某物戳某物 (yòng mǒuwù chuō mǒuwù)
All related terms of 'stab'
to stab sb to death
刺死某人 cìsǐ mǒurén
to stab sth with sth
用某物戳某物 yòng mǒuwù chuō mǒuwù
to stab sb in the back
( fig ) 暗箭伤(傷)人 ànjiàn shāng rén
a stab of pain/pity/jealousy
一阵(陣)疼痛/怜(憐)悯(憫)/嫉妒 yī zhèn téngtòng/liánmǐn/jídù
to have a stab at (doing) sth
( inf ) 试(試)图(圖)(做)某事 shìtú (zuò) mǒushì
1 (verb)
Definition
to pierce with a sharp pointed instrument
Somebody stabbed him in the stomach.
Synonyms
pierce
Pierce the skin of the potato with a fork.
cut
Thieves cut a hole in the fence.
Cut the branches back with a saw.
gore
He was gored to death by a rhinoceros.
run through
stick
They stuck a needle in my back.
The knife stuck in his chest.
injure
wound
The driver of the bus was wounded by shrapnel.
knife
The Roman senators famously knifed Julius Caesar.
thrust
spear
Spearing fish was a traditional way to hunt.
jab
puncture
The bullet punctured his stomach.
bayonet
He carried the colonel on his back after he was bayoneted.
transfix
impale
I had to go to hospital after impaling my foot on a railing spike.
spill blood
2 (verb)
Definition
to make a thrust (at)
Bess stabbed at a slice of cucumber.
Synonyms
jab
The needle was jabbed into my arm by a nurse.
poke
Lindy poked him in the ribs.
prod
He prodded Murray with the broom.
thrust
I thrust the needle into the coarse fabric.
lunge
I lunged forward to try to hit him.
1 (noun)
Definition
an attempt
(informal)
Several times tennis stars have had a stab at acting.
Synonyms
attempt
a deliberate attempt to destabilize defence
go (informal)
It took us two goes to get the colour right.
try
I didn't really expect anything, but it was worth a try.
shot (informal)
He will be given a shot at the world title.
crack (informal)
I'd love to have a crack at the title next year.
essay
My first essay in running a company was a disaster.
endeavour
His first endeavours in the field were wedding films.
2 (noun)
Definition
a sudden, usually unpleasant, sensation
a stab of pain just above his eye
Synonyms
twinge
the occasional twinge of indigestion
prick
She felt a prick on the back of her neck.
pang
pangs of hunger
ache
You feel nausea and aches in your muscles.
3 (noun)
Definition
a stabbing
Synonyms
wound
Six soldiers are reported to have died of their wounds.
rent
a small rent in the silk
thrust
Two of the knife thrusts were fatal.
jab
He gave me a jab in the side.
puncture
gash
a long gash just above his right eye
incision
It involves making a tiny incision in the skin.
idiom
See stab someone in the back
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ache
Definition
a continuous dull pain
You feel nausea and aches in your muscles.
Synonyms
pain,
discomfort,
suffering,
hurt,
smart,
smarting,
cramp,
throb,
throbbing,
irritation,
tenderness,
pounding,
spasm,
pang,
twinge,
soreness,
throe (rare)
in the sense of bayonet
Definition
to stab or kill with a bayonet
He carried the colonel on his back after he was bayoneted.
Synonyms
stab,
cut,
wound,
knife,
slash,
pierce,
run through,
spear,
transfix,
impale,
lacerate,
stick
in the sense of crack
Definition
an attempt
I'd love to have a crack at the title next year.
Synonyms
attempt,
go (informal),
try,
shot (informal),
opportunity,
stab (informal)
Synonyms of 'stab'
stab
Explore 'stab' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cut
Definition
(of a sharp instrument) to penetrate or open up (a person or thing)
Thieves cut a hole in the fence.Cut the branches back with a saw.
Synonyms
slit,
saw,
score,
nick,
slice,
slash,
pierce,
hack,
penetrate,
notch
in the sense of endeavour
Definition
an effort to do something
His first endeavours in the field were wedding films.
Synonyms
attempt,
try,
shot (informal),
effort,
trial,
go (informal),
aim,
bid,
crack (informal),
venture,
enterprise,
undertaking,
essay (formal),
stab (informal)
in the sense of essay
Definition
an attempt
My first essay in running a company was a disaster.
Synonyms
attempt,
go (informal),
try,
effort,
shot (informal),
trial,
struggle,
bid,
test,
experiment,
crack (informal),
venture,
undertaking,
stab (informal),
endeavour,
exertion
in the sense of gash
Definition
a long deep cut
a long gash just above his right eye
Synonyms
cut,
tear,
split,
wound,
rent,
slash,
slit,
gouge,
incision,
laceration
in the sense of go
Definition
an attempt
It took us two goes to get the colour right.
Synonyms
attempt,
try,
effort,
bid,
shot (informal),
crack (informal),
essay,
stab (informal),
whirl (informal),
whack (informal)
in the sense of gore
Definition
(of an animal) to pierce or stab (a person or another animal) with a horn or tusk
He was gored to death by a rhinoceros.
Synonyms
pierce,
wound,
stab,
spit,
transfix,
impale
in the sense of impale
Definition
to pierce through or fix with a sharp object
I had to go to hospital after impaling my foot on a railing spike.
Synonyms
pierce,
stick,
run through,
spike,
lance,
spear,
skewer,
spit,
transfix
in the sense of incision
Definition
a cut, esp. one made during a surgical operation
It involves making a tiny incision in the skin.
Synonyms
cut,
opening,
slash,
notch,
slit,
gash
in the sense of knife
Definition
to stab or kill with a knife
The Roman senators famously knifed Julius Caesar.
Synonyms
cut,
wound,
stab,
slash,
thrust,
gore,
pierce,
spear,
jab,
bayonet,
impale,
lacerate
in the sense of lunge
Definition
to move with a lunge
I lunged forward to try to hit him.
Synonyms
pounce,
charge,
bound,
dive,
leap,
plunge,
dash,
thrust,
poke,
jab
Additional synonyms
in the sense of pang
Definition
a sudden sharp feeling of pain or sadness
pangs of hunger
Synonyms
pain,
stab,
sting,
stitch,
ache,
wrench,
prick,
spasm,
twinge,
throe (rare)
in the sense of poke
Definition
to jab or prod with an elbow, finger, etc.
Lindy poked him in the ribs.
Synonyms
jab,
hit,
push,
stick,
dig,
punch,
stab,
thrust,
butt,
elbow,
shove,
nudge,
prod
in the sense of prick
Definition
a sharp emotional pain
She felt a prick on the back of her neck.
Synonyms
pang,
smart,
sting,
spasm,
gnawing,
twinge,
prickle
in the sense of prod
Definition
to poke with a pointed object
He prodded Murray with the broom.
Synonyms
poke,
push,
dig,
shove,
propel,
nudge,
jab,
prick
in the sense of puncture
Definition
to pierce a hole in (something) with a sharp object
The bullet punctured his stomach.
Synonyms
pierce,
cut,
nick,
penetrate,
prick,
rupture,
perforate,
impale,
bore a hole (in)
in the sense of rent
Definition
a slit made by tearing
a small rent in the silk
Synonyms
tear,
split,
rip,
slash,
slit,
gash,
perforation,
hole
in the sense of shot
Definition
an attempt
He will be given a shot at the world title.
Synonyms
attempt,
go (informal),
try,
turn,
chance,
effort,
opportunity,
crack (informal),
essay,
stab (informal),
endeavour
in the sense of spear
Definition
a weapon consisting of a long pole with a sharp point
Spearing fish was a traditional way to hunt.
Synonyms
gore,
pierce,
lance,
bayonet,
impale
in the sense of stick
Definition
to push (a pointed object) or (of a pointed object) to be pushed into another object
They stuck a needle in my back.The knife stuck in his chest.
Synonyms
poke,
dig,
stab,
insert,
thrust,
pierce,
penetrate,
spear,
prod,
jab,
transfix
in the sense of thrust
Definition
to push (someone or something) with force
I thrust the needle into the coarse fabric.
Synonyms
stab,
stick,
jab,
pierce
Additional synonyms
in the sense of thrust
Definition
a forceful drive, push, stab, or lunge
Two of the knife thrusts were fatal.
Synonyms
stab,
pierce,
lunge
in the sense of transfix
Definition
to pierce (a person or animal) through with a pointed object
Synonyms
pierce,
fix,
spit,
run through,
spear,
puncture,
skewer,
impale,
transpierce
in the sense of try
Definition
an attempt or effort
I didn't really expect anything, but it was worth a try.