stab

(stăb)

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

1. To harm (someone) by treachery or betrayal of trust.

[Middle English stabben.]

stabber stab'ber n.

View more Technology videos

verb

To cause to penetrate with force: dig, drive, plunge, ram, run, sink, stick, thrust. See put in/take out.

noun

1. A small mark or hole made by a sharp, pointed object: perforation, prick, puncture. See marks, open/close.
2. A sensation of physical discomfort occurring as the result of disease or injury: ache, pain, pang, prick, prickle, smart, soreness, sting, stitch, throe, twinge. Informal misery. See pain/pleasure.
3. A trying to do or make something: attempt, crack, effort, endeavor, essay, go, offer, trial, try. Informal shot. Slang take. Archaic assay. See try.
4. A brief trial: crack, go, try. Informal fling, shot, whack, whirl. See try.

Idioms beginning with stab:
stable
stab in the back, a

In addition to the idiom beginning with stab, also see make a stab at.

To roughen a surface of a brick wall with light blows of a pointed tool to provide a hold for plasterwork.

---

sign description: One hand makes a stabbing motion.

---

For a list of words related to stab, see:

• Violent Actions - stab: puncture with knife or sharp object

---

See words rhyming with "stabber."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Stab.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - stikke, gennembore, såre, blokhæfte
v. intr. - gennembore med et skarpt våben
n. - stik, stød

idioms:

• a stab at    stik efter, et udfald efter
• a stab in the back    bagholdsangreb
• a stab in the dark    et skud i mørket, et godt gæt
• stab wound    stiksår

Nederlands (Dutch)
steken, steek, poging

Français (French)
v. tr. - donner un coup de couteau dans, poignarder, piquer dans, enfoncer dans, frapper (qn, qch)
v. intr. - piquer dans, poignarder, frapper
n. - coup de couteau, (fig) élancement, accès (de), essai, tentative

idioms:

• a stab at    un essai de
• a stab in the back    (fig) coup en traître
• a stab in the dark    risquer, deviner
• stab someone in the back    (lit, fig) poignarder qn dans le dos
• stab wound    coup de couteau (blessure)

Deutsch (German)
v. - (er)stechen
n. - Stich, Stichwunde, Stoß

idioms:

• a stab at    Versuch
• a stab in the back    einen Dolchstich in den Rücken
• a stab in the dark    ein Versuch aufs Geratewohl
• stab someone in the back    (fig.) jmdm. in den Rücken fallen
• stab wound    Stichwunde

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - μαχαιρώνω, λογχίζω, (οικοδ.) "αγριεύω" τοίχο, σαγράρω
n. - μαχαιριά, σουβλιά, (μτφ.) απόπειρα, δοκιμή

idioms:

• a stab at    δοκιμή
• a stab in the back    ύπουλο χτύπημα
• a stab in the dark    προσπάθεια στα τυφλά
• stab wound    τραύμα από αιχμηρό όργανο

Italiano (Italian)
pugnalare, pugnalata, fitta

idioms:

• a stab at    un tentativo
• a stab in the back    una coltellata alla schiena
• stab wound    ferita da arma fredda

Português (Portuguese)
v. - apunhalar, ofender
n. - facada (f), tentativa (f)

idioms:

• a stab at    uma tentativa de
• a stab in the back    golpe traiçoeiro
• stab wound    ferida de faca

Русский (Russian)
наносить удар (ножом), вонзать, ранить (острым оружием), тыкать, удар (ножом), предательский удар, колотая рана, внезапная острая боль, приступ

idioms:

• a stab at    попытка сделать что-л.
• a stab in the back    нанести удар в спину
• stab wound    колотая рана

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - matar a puñaladas, apuñalar, acuchillar, dar una puñalada, dar un navajazo, clavar un puñal
v. intr. - matar a puñaladas, apuñalar, acuchillar, dar una puñalada, dar un navajazo
n. - puñalada, estocada, cuchillada, pinchazo, golpe de punta

idioms:

• a stab at    intentar hacer algo
• a stab in the back    puñalada por la espalda, traición
• a stab in the dark    tirarse al agua, tirarse un lance
• stab someone in the back    apuñalar a alguien por la espalda
• stab wound    herida

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - sticka ned, stöta, genomborra, angripa, skada, försök
n. - stick, sting, stöt, smärta

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
刺, 戳, 刺伤, 刺入, 刺痛, 伤心, 剧痛

idioms:

• a stab at    试图做, 尝试
• a stab in the back    诽谤, 伤人的暗箭
• a stab in the dark    猜测, 推测
• stab wound    刀伤

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 刺, 戳, 刺傷, 刺入, 刺痛
v. intr. - 刺, 刺傷
n. - 刺, 傷心, 劇痛

idioms:

• a stab at    試圖做, 嘗試
• a stab in the back    誹謗, 傷人的暗箭
• a stab in the dark    猜測, 推測
• stab wound    刀傷

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - (칼 따위로) 찌르다, 찌르듯이 아프게 하다, (석회 따위가 잘 붙도록) 벽돌 벽을 쪼아서 꺼칠꺼칠하게 하다
v. intr. - 찌르다, 찌르는 듯이 아픈 느낌을 주다
n. - 찌르기, 시도, 중상

idioms:

• a stab at    ~을 시도하다
• a stab in the back    중상, 비겁한 행위, 배반
• a stab in the dark    억측, 제멋대로의 짐작

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 刺す, 突き刺す, 突きかかる, 傷付ける, 鋭い痛みを与える
n. - 突き刺すこと, 刺し傷, 鋭い痛み, 試み

idioms:

• a stab at    ちょっとした試み
• a stab in the back    後ろから刺すこと, 裏切り
• stab wound    刺し傷

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) طعن, يؤشر باصبعه باتجاه غيره (الاسم) طعنه, محاوله, تخمين, ألم مفاجىء, وخزة‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮דקר, נעץ, תחב‬
v. intr. - ‮ניסה לדקור, ניסה לפגוע בשמו של אדם‬
n. - ‮דקירה, נעיצה, פצע, כאב חד‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.