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bob 1 (bŏb)
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v. bobbed, bob·bing, bobs
v.intr.
1. To move up and down: a cork bobbing on the water.
2. To grab at floating or hanging objects with the teeth: bobbed for apples.
3. To fish with a bobber.
4. To curtsy or bow.
v.tr.
To cause to move up and down: bobbed my head in response to the question.
n.
1. A quick, jerky movement of the head or body.
2. A bobber used in fishing.
Phrasal Verb:
bob up
To appear or arise unexpectedly or suddenly.
[Middle English bobben, to move up and down, probably ultimately of imitative origin.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
 
bob 2 (bŏb)
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n.
1. A small, knoblike pendent object, such as a plumb bob.
2. A small lock or curl of hair.
3. A haircut that hangs evenly above the shoulders, often around the chin, worn especially by women or children.
4. Informal Surgical shortening or reshaping of the nose.
5. The docked tail of a horse.
6.
a. A bobsled.
b. A bob skate.
tr.v. bobbed, bob·bing, bobs
To cut short or reshape: bobbed her hair; had his nose bobbed.
[Middle English bobbe, cluster of fruit.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
 
bob 3 (bŏb)
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n. pl. bob
Chiefly British
A shilling.
[Origin unknown.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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