bob
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.to move quickly up and down, especially while floating on water.
v.to move with a short, jerky, or buoyant motion, typically vertically at or near the surface of a liquid.
Simple“The small wooden boat started to bob on the waves as the storm approached.”
In context“The cork bobbed rhythmically in the wake of the passing freighter, eventually drifting toward the reeds at the river's edge.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to cut someone's hair into a short, level style.
v.to cut hair into a bob; to shorten or dock a tail or garment.
Simple“She decided to bob her hair for the summer to stay cool.”
In context“The stylist suggested she bob her hair to chin length to better accentuate her jawline.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
n.a short hairstyle where the hair is cut to the same length all around, usually near the chin.
n.a short haircut for women or children, typically cut straight around the head at about jaw-level.
Simple“She looks very different now that she has a sleek blonde bob.”
In context“The classic bob remains a staple of salon portfolios due to its versatility and ease of maintenance.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
n.a small weight that hangs on the end of a string, like on a clock.
n.the weight at the end of a pendulum or plumb line.
Simple“The brass bob at the bottom of the clock swung back and forth.”
In context“The physicist calculated the period of the pendulum by measuring the distance from the pivot to the centre of the bob.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
n.a small amount of money, or a shilling in old British money.
n.a shilling; in modern usage, an unspecified but small sum of money.
Simple“That old bicycle isn't worth a bob, if you ask me.”
In context“He managed to earn a few bob doing odd jobs for the neighbours during the summer holidays.”
UsageUsually used in the singular even when referring to multiple units of currency.
Teacher's tipMostly heard in the UK; 'a few bob' is a common idiom for 'some money'.
Probably from a medieval hypocorism of Rob.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.