stab Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a sudden sharp feeling
    twinge; pang.
    • pangs of regret
    • she felt a stab of excitement
    • twinges of conscience
  2. noun a strong blow with a knife or other sharp pointed instrument
    thrust; knife thrust.
    • one strong stab to the heart killed him
  3. noun informal words for any attempt or effort
    shot.
    • he gave it his best shot
    • he took a stab at forecasting
  4. verb use a knife on
    knife.
    • The victim was knifed to death
  5. verb stab or pierce
    jab.
    • he jabbed the piece of meat with his pocket knife
  6. verb poke or thrust abruptly
    dig; prod; jab; poke.
    • he jabbed his finger into her ribs

WordNet

Stab transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. OD. staven to fix, fasten, fr. stave, staff, a staff, rod; akin to G. stab a staff, stick, E. staff; also Gael. stob to stab, as n., a stake, a stub. Cf. Staff.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Stabbed ; present participle & verbal noun Stabbing
Definitions
  1. To pierce with a pointed weapon; to wound or kill by the thrust of a pointed instrument; as, to stab a man with a dagger; also, to thrust; as, to stab a dagger into a person.
  2. Fig.: To injure secretly or by malicious falsehood or slander; as, to stab a person's reputation.
Stab intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To give a wound with a pointed weapon; to pierce; to thrust with a pointed weapon.
    None shall dare With shortened sword to stab in closer war. Dryden.
  2. To wound or pain, as if with a pointed weapon.
    She speaks poniards, and every word stabs. Shak.
Stab noun
Definitions
  1. The thrust of a pointed weapon.
  2. A wound with a sharp-pointed weapon; as, to fall by the stab an assassin. Shak.
  3. Fig.: An injury inflicted covertly or suddenly; as, a stab given to character.

Webster 1913