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

Stab \Stab\, n.
   1. The thrust of a pointed weapon.
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   2. A wound with a sharp-pointed weapon; as, to fall by the
      stab of an assassin. --Shak.
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   3. Fig.: An injury inflicted covertly or suddenly; as, a stab
      given to character.
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Stab \Stab\ (st[a^]b), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stabbed (st[a^]bd);
   p. pr. & vb. n. Stabbing.] [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.]
   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.
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   2. Fig.: To injure secretly or by malicious falsehood or
      slander; as, to stab a person's reputation.
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Stab \Stab\, v. i.
   1. To give a wound with a pointed weapon; to pierce; to
      thrust with a pointed weapon.
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            None shall dare
            With shortened sword to stab in closer war.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   2. To wound or pain, as if with a pointed weapon.
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            She speaks poniards, and every word stabs. --Shak.
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   To stab at, to offer or threaten to stab; to thrust a
      pointed weapon at.
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Stab culture \Stab culture\ (Bacteriol.)
   A culture made by inoculating a solid medium, as gelatin,
   with the puncture of a needle or wire; -- called also stab.
   The growths are usually of characteristic form.
   [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

STAB

    A descendent of BCPL.

   (1996-08-25)