A hob is a surface on top of a cooker or set into a work surface, which can be heated in order to cook things on it.
[British]regional note: in AM, use burner
hob in British English1
(hɒb)
noun
1. British
the flat top part of a cooking stove, or a separate flat surface, containing hotplates or burners
2.
a shelf beside an open fire, for keeping kettles, etc, hot
3.
a steel pattern used in forming a mould or die in cold metal
4.
a hard steel rotating cutting tool used in machines for cutting gears
verbWord forms: hobs, hobbing or hobbed
5. (transitive)
to cut or form with a hob
Word origin
C16: variant of obsolete hubbe, of unknown origin; perhaps related to hub
hob in British English2
(hɒb)
noun
1.
a hobgoblin or elf
2.
a male ferret
3. raise hob
Derived forms
hoblike (ˈhobˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C14: variant of Rob, short for Robin or Robert
hob in American English1
(hɑb)
noun
1.
a projecting ledge at the back or side of a fireplace, used for keeping a kettle, saucepan, etc. warm
2.
a peg used as a target in quoits, etc.
3.
a device for cutting teeth in a gear blank, etc.
Word origin
? var. of hub
hob in American English2
(hɑb)
noun British, Dialectal
1.
a rustic; lout
2.
an elf or goblin
3. [H-]
Robin Goodfellow, or Puck
Idioms:
play hob with
Word origin
ME, old familiar form for Robin, Robert1
Examples of 'hob' in a sentence
hob
Remove from the hob and set aside to cool.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Heat goose fat in roasting tin over hob until smoking hot.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
And make sure you do your washing up straight away and wipe down your hob after cooking.
The Sun (2014)
This is probably because they only take a couple of minutes on the hob.
The Sun (2014)
Once it reaches this stage remove it from the hob and set it aside.
The Sun (2012)
Heat an ovenproof frying pan on the hob until hot.
The Sun (2013)
This technique induces heat in metal pans placed on a flat hob while the hob itself remains cold.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
If your roasting tin will not work on the hob then just pour the lot into a pan.
The Sun (2013)
Just below is a hammock for lounging in and a kitchen tent with a gas hob and cooking equipment.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Our kitchen was well equipped with gas cooker, hob and fridge plus lots of cupboard space.
The Sun (2014)
Once they are cooked, remove them from the oven or hob and slice in half.
The Sun (2013)
On launch day he worked the hob while Land manned the till.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Bring to a simmer on the hob and then cook in the oven for 2 hours.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She is full of rustic charm but modernised to include creature comforts such as a sink, fridge and gas hob.
The Sun (2016)
Q The special cleaner recommended for my ceramic hob is very expensive.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
AN epileptic cat torched his owner's house yesterday after accidentally turning on the electric hob during a seizure.
The Sun (2013)
The six-month-old pup stood on the switch for the electric hob, turning it on.
The Sun (2007)
The figures for an electric hob, by the way, were off the scale.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
For this reason, don't keep the jars near the hob where hot fat can hit them.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
When we were younger, Mum would cook on the hob on the stove or use a microwave to prepare meals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The carrier bag caught light and the resulting fire damaged the kitchen units, hob, work surface and fridge freezer.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The bijou property has a kitchen concealed behind a mirrored wall that contains a microwave, sink, hob and fridge.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Word lists with
hob
tool
In other languages
hob
British English: hob NOUN
A hob is a surface on top of a cooker or set into a work surface, which can be heated in order to cook things on it.
American English: cooktop
Brazilian Portuguese: parte de cima do fogão
Chinese: 炉盘
European Spanish: quemador
French: plaque chauffante
German: Kochfeld
Italian: piastra di cottura
Japanese: こんろの天板
Korean: 열판
European Portuguese: parte de cima do fogão
Latin American Spanish: quemador
All related terms of 'hob'
hob-job
to do casual work or various small unskilled jobs
raise hob
to cause mischief or disturbance
ceramic hob
(on an electric cooker ) a flat ceramic cooking surface having heating elements fitted on the underside , usually patterned to show the areas where heat is produced
hob-jobber
someone who does casual work or various small unskilled jobs
hob-jobbing
the work or activities of a hobjobber
play hob with
to make trouble for; interfere with and make disordered