bob
To move gently and vertically, in either a single motion or repeatedly up and down, at or near the surface of a body of water, or similar medium.
Verb 4 meanings
To move gently and vertically, in either a single motion or repeatedly up and down, at or near the surface of a body of water, or similar medium.
“The cork bobbed gently in the calm water.”
To move (something) as though it were bobbing in water.
“I bobbed my head underwater and saw the goldfish.”
To curtsy.
To strike with a quick, light blow; to tap.
Noun 4 meanings
A bobbing motion; a quick up and down movement.
“a bob of the head”
A curtsy.
A bobber (buoyant fishing device).
Any of various hesperiid butterflies.
Etymology
From Middle English bobben (“to move up and down or back and forth”), of uncertain origin. Compare Scots bob (“to mark, dance with a bobbing motion”), Icelandic boppa (“to wave up and down”), Swedish bobba (“to bob”), Faroese bøbbur (“something that rises or stands up; top”), Dutch dobberen (“to float, bob”).
Similar and opposite words
BOB at a glance
BOB has 3 letters and scores 7 points in Scrabble (B 3 + O 1 + B 3) and 9 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #2,276 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with bob
All rhymes- KABOB13
- NABOB9
- THINGAMABOB21
- KEBOB13
- THINGUMABOB21
- CABOB11
- THINGUMMYBOB27
- THINGAMYBOB24
- EARBOB10
- JIGGUMBOB24
- SKIBOB14
- THINGUMBOB20
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