JAB (jabbed, jabbing)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: jabbed    , jabbing   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does jab mean? 

• JAB (noun)
  The noun JAB has 3 senses:

1. a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)

2. a quick short straight punch

3. the act of touching someone suddenly with your finger or elbow

  Familiarity information: JAB used as a noun is uncommon.

• JAB (verb)
  The verb JAB has 3 senses:

1. poke or thrust abruptly

2. strike or punch with quick and short blows

3. stab or pierce

  Familiarity information: JAB used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• JAB (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

jab; jabbing; poke; poking; thrust; thrusting

Context example:

he made a thrusting motion with his fist

Hypernyms ("jab" is a kind of...):

gesture (motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling)

Derivation:

jab (strike or punch with quick and short blows)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A quick short straight punch

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("jab" is a kind of...):

biff; clout; lick; poke; punch; slug ((boxing) a blow with the fist)

Derivation:

jab (strike or punch with quick and short blows)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The act of touching someone suddenly with your finger or elbow

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

dig; jab

Context example:

she gave me a sharp dig in the ribs

Hypernyms ("jab" is a kind of...):

touch; touching (the act of putting two things together with no space between them)

Derivation:

jab (poke or thrust abruptly)

• JAB (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they jab    ... he / she / it jabs   
Past simple: jabbed   
Past participle: jabbed   
-ing form: jabbing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Poke or thrust abruptly

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

dig; jab; poke; prod; stab

Context example:

he jabbed his finger into her ribs

Hypernyms (to "jab" is one way to...):

thrust (push forcefully)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

jab (the act of touching someone suddenly with your finger or elbow)

jabbing (a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Strike or punch with quick and short blows

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "jab" is one way to...):

strike (deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

The fighter managed to jab his opponent

Derivation:

jab (a quick short straight punch)

jab (a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Stab or pierce

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

jab; stab

Context example:

he jabbed the piece of meat with his pocket knife

Hypernyms (to "jab" is one way to...):

thrust (push forcefully)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "jab"):

goad; prick (stab or urge on as if with a pointed stick)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

 Context examples 

Words used to describe 'sharp' feelings include 'like a knife,' 'like a spike,' 'jabbing,' or 'like jolts.'

(NPS - Tell Us How Sharp Your Pain Feels, NCI Thesaurus)

He swore like a madman and jabbed at me with an oar, for he must have seen death in my eyes.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)