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/stab/, v., stabbed, stabbing, n.v.t.1. to pierce or wound with or as if with a pointed weapon: She stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork.2. to thrust, plunge, or jab (a knife, pointed weapon, or the like) into something: He stabbed the knife into the man's chest.3. to penetrate sharply or painfully: Their misery stabbed his conscience.4. to make a piercing, thrusting, or pointing motion at or in: He stabbed me in the chest with his finger. The speaker stabbed the air in anger.v.i.5. to thrust with or as if with a knife or other pointed weapon: to stab at an attacker.6. to deliver a wound, as with a pointed weapon.7. stab (someone) in the back, to do harm to (someone), esp. to a friend or to a person who is unsuspecting or in a defenseless position.n.8. the act of stabbing.9. a thrust or blow with, or as if with, a pointed weapon.10. an attempt; try: Make a stab at an answer before giving up.11. a wound made by stabbing.12. a sudden, brief, and usually painful, sensation: He felt a stab of pain in his foot. A stab of pity ran through her.13. stab in the back, an act of treachery.[1325-75; (v.) ME (Scots) stabben < ?; (n.) late ME, akin to or deriv. of the v.; cf. Scots stob STUB1]Syn. 1. spear, penetrate, pin, transfix.
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Universalium. 2010.