STAB (stabbed, stabbing)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: stabbed    , stabbing   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stab mean? 

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

1. a sudden sharp feeling

2. a strong blow with a knife or other sharp pointed instrument

3. informal words for any attempt or effort

  Familiarity information: STAB used as a noun is uncommon.

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

1. use a knife on

2. stab or pierce

3. poke or thrust abruptly

  Familiarity information: STAB used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STAB (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A sudden sharp feeling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

pang; stab; twinge

Context example:

twinges of conscience

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

feeling (the experiencing of affective and emotional states)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stab"):

guilt pang (pangs of feeling guilty)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A strong blow with a knife or other sharp pointed instrument

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

knife thrust; stab; thrust

Context example:

one strong stab to the heart killed him

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

blow (a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stab"):

lunge; passado; straight thrust ((fencing) an attacking thrust made with one foot forward and the back leg straight and with the sword arm outstretched forward)

remise ((fencing) a second thrust made on the same lunge (as when your opponent fails to riposte))

Derivation:

stab (stab or pierce)

stab (use a knife on)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Informal words for any attempt or effort

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

shot; stab

Context example:

he took a stab at forecasting

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

attempt; effort; endeavor; endeavour; try (earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something)

• STAB (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they stab    ... he / she / it stabs   
Past simple: stabbed   
Past participle: stabbed   
-ing form: stabbing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Use a knife on

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

knife; stab

Context example:

The victim was knifed to death

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

injure; wound (cause injuries or bodily harm to)

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

poniard (stab with a poniard)

bayonet (stab or kill someone with a bayonet)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They want to stab the prisoners

Derivation:

stab (a strong blow with a knife or other sharp pointed instrument)

stabber (someone who stabs another person)

Sense 2

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 "stab" is one way to...):

thrust (push forcefully)

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

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

Sentence frames:

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

Derivation:

stab (a strong blow with a knife or other sharp pointed instrument)

stabber (someone who stabs another person)

Sense 3

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 "stab" is one way to...):

thrust (push forcefully)

Sentence frames:

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

 Context examples 

Act fourth displayed the despairing Roderigo on the point of stabbing himself because he has been told that Zara has deserted him.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Striking the turnscrew through the lead with a swift downward stab, which made me wince, he made a small hole, which was, however, big enough to admit the point of the saw.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He had been stabbed to the heart and must have died instantly.

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

Another stone struck him on the side, and he heard a sound like a breaking stick, with a keen stabbing pain which shot through his chest.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It may also relieve neuropathic pain, the burning, stabbing, or stinging pain that may arise from damage to nerves caused by some types of cancer or cancer treatment.

(Flecainide, NCI Dictionary)

"You know this place, Mason," said our guide; "she bit and stabbed you here."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Mugridge’s face was livid with fear at what he had done and at what he might expect sooner or later from the man he had stabbed.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

They had each been stabbed, it seems, and the Hungarian police were of opinion that they had quarreled and had inflicted mortal injuries upon each other.

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

A penetrating stab wound from a needle (or other sharp object) that may result in exposure to blood or other body fluids.

(Needlestick Puncture, NCI Thesaurus)

Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Check Yes or No if the adjective applies to your pain; stabbing.

(BPI - Stabbing, NCI Thesaurus)