verb

bob

verb

To move up and down repeatedly, especially near the surface of water.

"The buoy bobbed gently on the waves."

"Her ponytail bobbed as she jogged."

noun

A short haircut where the hair is cut evenly around the head, roughly to jaw or shoulder length.

"She got a chic bob before starting her new job."

British informal: a shilling, or more generally a small amount of money.

"It only cost a few bob back then."

"He didn't have a bob to his name."

How to Use Bob

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo move up and down repeatedly; also a short haircut, or old British slang for money.

Common pairings

bob up and down get a bob (haircut) a few bob

Word Forms

bobbed past tense, bobbed past tense, bobs plural, bobs plural, bob plural, bobs plural, bobs plural, BOBs plural, Bobs plural, Bobs plural, bobs singular, bobs singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She got a chic _____ before starting her new job.

Etymology

From Middle English bobben, "to strike or shake," of uncertain deeper origin.