stab
5 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
stabs
plural
stabs
Britannica Dictionary definition of STAB
[count]
1
:
a wound made by a pointed weapon (such as a knife)
-
He died from a stab to the heart. [=died from being stabbed in the heart]
-
a stab wound/victim
2
:
a sudden, strong feeling of physical or emotional pain
— + of
-
a stab of pain/regret/doubt/fear
3
informal
:
an attempt to do something successfully
— often + at
-
She took/made a stab at solving the problem. [=she made an attempt to solve the problem]
-
Let me give it a stab. = Let me have a stab at it. [=let me try to do it]
a stab in the back
:
an action or way of behaving that hurts someone who trusts you
:
an act of betrayal
-
I can't believe that someone I had helped and supported would steal from me. It's a real stab in the back.
a stab in the dark
1
:
a guess that is based on very little or no information or evidence
-
They don't really know how much the work will cost. They're just taking a stab [=shot] in the dark.
2
:
an attempt that is not likely to succeed
-
It's a stab [=shot] in the dark, but we should try anyway.
2
stab
/ˈstæb/
verb
stabs;
stabbed;
stabbing
2
stab
/ˈstæb/
verb
stabs;
stabbed;
stabbing
Britannica Dictionary definition of STAB
1
[+ object]
:
to wound (someone or something) with a pointed weapon (such as a knife)
-
He stabbed her with a dagger.
-
The victim was stabbed in the chest five times.
2
:
to quickly or suddenly push a pointed object into or toward someone or something
[+ object]
-
He stabbed the piece of meat with a fork. = He stabbed the fork into the piece of meat.
-
She stabbed [=jabbed] the air with her pen as she spoke.
[no object]
— often + at
-
She stabbed at the dead animal with a stick.
stab (someone) in the back
:
to hurt (someone who trusts you) by not giving help or by doing something morally wrong
:
to betray (someone)
-
He's the kind of person who gets you to trust him but then stabs you in the back.
