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stab (stăb)
Share:
v. stabbed, stab·bing, stabs
v.tr.
1. To pierce or wound with or as if with a pointed weapon.
2. To plunge (a pointed weapon or instrument) into something.
3. To make a thrusting or poking motion at or into: stabbed the air with his fingers.
v.intr.
1. To thrust with or as if with a pointed weapon: stabbed at the food with her fork.
2. To inflict a wound with or as if with a pointed weapon.
n.
1. A thrust with a pointed weapon or instrument.
2. A wound inflicted with or as if with a pointed weapon.
3. A sudden piercing pain.
4. An attempt; a try: made a stab at the answer.
Idiom:
stab (someone) in the back
To harm (someone) by treachery or betrayal of trust.
[Middle English stabben.]
stabber n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. 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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