a person who employs or superintends workers; manager.
a politician who controls the party organization, as in a particular district.
a person who makes decisions, exercises authority, dominates, etc.: My grandfather was the boss in his family.
(in a video game or role-playing game) a powerful nonplayer character, often appearing at the end of a level or at the end of the game, who must be defeated in order for a player to move on to a new level or to win the game (often used attributively): Is there a trick to beating the final boss?Your objective for this boss-level event is to survive several waves of zombie attacks.
verb (used with object)
to be master of or over; manage; direct. control.
to order about, especially in an arrogant manner.
verb (used without object)
to be boss.
to be too domineering and authoritative.
adjective
chief; master.
Slang. first-rate.
Origin of boss
1
An Americanism dating from 1640–50; from Dutch baas “master, foreman”
bosomed, bosomy, boson, Bosporus, bosquet, boss, bossage, bossa nova, boss around, bossboy, boss cocky
Definition for boss (2 of 4)
boss2
[ baws, bos ]
/ bɔs, bɒs /
noun
Botany, Zoology. a protuberance or roundish excrescence on the body or on some organ of an animal or plant.
Geology. a knoblike mass of rock, especially an outcrop of igneous or metamorphic rock.
an ornamental protuberance of metal, ivory, etc.; stud.
Architecture.
an ornamental, knoblike projection, as a carved keystone at the intersection of ogives.
a stone roughly formed and set in place for later carving.
Bookbinding. one of several pieces of brass or other metal inset into the cover of a book to protect the corners or edges or for decoration.
Machinery. a small projection on a casting or forging.
Nautical. a projecting part in a ship's hull, or in one frame of a hull, fitting around a propeller shaft.
verb (used with object)
to ornament with bosses.
to emboss.
(in plumbing) to hammer (sheet metal, as lead) to conform to an irregular surface.
Origin of boss
2
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English boce, from Anglo-French: “lump, growth, boil”; Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin bottia, of uncertain origin
Definition for boss (3 of 4)
boss3
[ bos, baws ]
/ bɒs, bɔs /
noun
a familiar name for a calf or cow.
Origin of boss
3
An Americanism first recorded in 1790–1800; compare dialectal (southwest England) borse, boss, buss “six-month-old calf”
Two months later, Murphy took over the intelligence office after his boss retired and proceeded to have multiple meetings with Cuccinelli on the HTA.
What to make of the DHS whistleblower’s shocking complaint|Alex Ward|September 11, 2020|Vox
You might fool me about how well you do your job, you might fool your boss about how well you do your job, but you will never fool you.
Podcast recommendations for a better life and career from Fortune’s 40 under 40|Aric Jenkins|September 5, 2020|Fortune
Manu Kumar Jain, 39, global vice president, Xiaomi, and managing director, Xiaomi IndiaThe best advice I ever received was from my first boss at McKinsey & Company, Ireena Vittal, who also recruited me into the firm.
The advice that helped this year’s 40 under 40 find their own path|kdunn6|September 3, 2020|Fortune
Shivani Siroya, 38, CEO & founder at TalaThe best career advice I ever received came from my boss, Eva Weissman, when I was working at the United Nations Population Fund.
The advice that helped this year’s 40 under 40 find their own path|kdunn6|September 3, 2020|Fortune
Already short-staffed in light of cost cuts, agency bosses will need to weigh up their chances of winning new business with the impact it will have on work for current clients.
‘It’s more transformational’: For the third time in five years, advertisers will launch a mediapalooza of account reviews|Seb Joseph|September 2, 2020|Digiday
Based on the hat he had created for himself, Stetson made a version called “The Boss of the Plains.”
My Love Letter to the Stetson|Mark McKinnon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like his boss al-Baghdadi, he was captured by U.S. forces and served time in Camp Bucca.
Iraqi Kurds Get Their Groove Back, End Siege of Mount Sinjar|Jamie Dettmer|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I later told my boss about what had happened, but she told me that I probably misunderstood the situation.
‘I Saved My Friend From Bill Cosby’|Lloyd Grove|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His sensitivity to this problem came out in his first sharp disagreement with his boss, VMI superintendent Francis H. Smith.
Stonewall Jackson, VMI’s Most Embattled Professor|S. C. Gwynne|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Scrutinizing the lines on your face, she strokes your cheek and asks if your boss is working you too hard.
How to Make It Through Thanksgiving Alive|Lizzie Crocker|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They would not naturally keep the boss waiting long, for O'Byrn made no doubt that he was with them.
The Lash|Olin L. Lyman
The boss's hand was upon the boy's knee and he was talking earnestly.
Connie Morgan in the Lumber Camps|James B. Hendryx
Johnny's abject tone—he who had been so high-chested in the past—may have had its effect upon the boss.
Skyrider|B. M. Bower
Little by little this shadow of the old system changes into that of the "boss" of the settlement and ward.
The Social Evolution of the Argentine Republic|Ernesto Quesada
The Republican "boss" was a tall, thin, United States senator.
As A Chinaman Saw Us|Anonymous
British Dictionary definitions for boss (1 of 4)
boss1
/ (bɒs) informal /
noun
a person in charge of or employing others
mainlyUSa professional politician who controls a party machine or political organization, often using devious or illegal methods
verb
to employ, supervise, or be in charge of
(usually foll by around or about) to be domineering or overbearing towards (others)
adjective
slangexcellent; finea boss hand at carpentry; that's boss!
Word Origin for boss
C19: from Dutch baas master; probably related to Old High German basa aunt, Frisian baes master
British Dictionary definitions for boss (2 of 4)
boss2
/ (bɒs) /
noun
a knob, stud, or other circular rounded protuberance, esp an ornamental one on a vault, a ceiling, or a shield
biologyany of various protuberances or swellings in plants and animals
an area of increased thickness, usually cylindrical, that strengthens or provides room for a locating device on a shaft, hub of a wheel, etc
a similar projection around a hole in a casting or fabricated component
an exposed rounded mass of igneous or metamorphic rock, esp the uppermost part of an underlying batholith
verb(tr)
to ornament with bosses; emboss
Word Origin for boss
C13: from Old French boce, from Vulgar Latin bottia (unattested); related to Italian bozza metal knob, swelling
British Dictionary definitions for boss (3 of 4)
boss3
bossy
/ (bɒs) /
nounpluralbossesorbossies
a calf or cow
Word Origin for boss
C19: from dialect buss calf, perhaps ultimately from Latin bōs cow, ox
British Dictionary definitions for boss (4 of 4)
BOSS
/ (bɒs) /
n acronym for(formerly)
Bureau of State Security; a branch of the South African security police
“She Sheds” And Other Words That We Made Unnecessarily FeminineLet's take a look at some of the most unnecessarily feminine words ... and where they came from.