stab Meaning & Definition
What Does Stab Mean?
As a noun, stab means An act of stabbing or thrusting with an object to hurt or kill someone. It can also mean A wound made by stabbing. As a verb, it means To pierce or to wound (somebody) with a (usually pointed) tool or weapon, especially a knife or dagger. As an adjective, it means Clipping of established.
Quick Facts About Stab
| Part of speech | noun, verb, adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /stæb/ |
| Synonyms | thrust, dig and prod |
| Plural | stabs |
| Verb forms | stabs, stabbing, stabbed |
Stab Definition (Noun)
- An act of stabbing or thrusting with an object to hurt or kill someone.
- A wound made by stabbing.
- Pain inflicted on a person's feelings.
- An attempt.
I'll give this thankless task a stab.
- Criticism.
- A single staccato chord that adds dramatic impact to a composition.
a horn stab
- A bacterial culture made by inoculating a solid medium, such as gelatin, with the puncture of a needle or wire.
Stab as a Verb
- To pierce or to wound (somebody) with a (usually pointed) tool or weapon, especially a knife or dagger.
If you stab him in the heart he won't live long enough to retaliate.
- To thrust in a stabbing motion.
to stab a dagger into a person
- To recklessly hit with the tip of a (usually pointed) object, such as a weapon or finger (often used with at).
He stabbed at my face with the twig but luckily kept missing my eyes.
- To cause a sharp, painful sensation (often used with at).
The snow from the blizzard was stabbing at my face as I skied down the mountain.
- To injure secretly or by malicious falsehood or slander.
to stab a person's reputation
- To roughen a brick wall with a pick so as to hold plaster.
- To pierce folded sheets, near their back edges, for the passage of thread or wire.
- To guide the end of a pipe into a coupling when making up a connection.
Noun
- The horizontal or vertical stabilizer of an aircraft.
- Synonym of stabilizer (“part of a computer keyboard”).
Stab as an Adjective
- Clipping of established.
Noun
- Clipping of establishment.
Noun
- An act of stabbing or thrusting with an object.
Verb
- To pierce or to wound (somebody) with a pointed tool or weapon, especially a knife or dagger.
If you stab him in the heart he won't live long enough to retaliate.
- To recklessly hit with the tip of a pointed object, such as a weapon or finger (often used with at).
He stabbed at my face with the twig but luckily kept missing my eyes.
Synonyms of Stab
Stab synonyms and antonyms →Stab in a Sentence
I'll give this thankless task a stab.
a horn stab
If you stab him in the heart he won't live long enough to retaliate.
to stab a dagger into a person
He stabbed at my face with the twig but luckily kept missing my eyes.
The snow from the blizzard was stabbing at my face as I skied down the mountain.
to stab a person's reputation
Word Forms & Grammar
stab (plural stabs)
stab (third-person singular simple present stabs, present participle stabbing, simple past and past participle stabbed)
stab (not comparable)
stab (plural not attested)
Words That Rhyme With Stab
Origin of Stab
Origin 1: First attested in Scottish English (compare Scots stob, stobbe, stabb (“a pointed stick or stake; a thrust with a pointed weapon”)), from Middle English stabbe (“a stab”), probably a variant of Middle English stob, stub, stubbe (“pointed stick, stake, thorn, stub, stump”), from Old Norse stobbi, stubbi, cognate with Old English stybb. Cognate with Middle Dutch stobbe.
Origin 2: Supposed by some to derive from Scottish Gaelic stob (“to prick, to prod, to push, to thrust”); supposed by others to be from a Scots word.
Origin 3: Clipping of stabilizer or stabiliser.
Questions People Ask About Stab
Is stab a noun or a verb?
Stab is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb and an adjective.
What is another word for stab?
You can replace stab with words such as thrust, dig and prod. See the full list of stab synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of stab?
The plural of stab is stabs.
What is the past tense of stab?
The past tense of stab is stabbed. The present participle is stabbing.
More About Stab On Meaning Stash
More Words Starting With “Sta”
- stabbing
- stabby
- stabile
- stabilisation
- stabilitate
- stability
- stabilization
- stabilizations
- stabilize
- stabilized