Definition

1. Noun:

   • A short, quick up-and-down or side-to-side movement: A small, abrupt motion, often of the head or body.
   • A short haircut: A hairstyle, typically for women or children, where the hair is cut straight around the head at about jaw level.
   • A small, floating object: A buoyant object, often made of cork, attached to a fishing line to signal a bite.
   • A hanging weight: A weight, often spherical, that hangs from a cord or chain, such as a pendulum weight.
   • A type of sled: A long sled used for racing down snowy slopes, often accommodating more than one person and equipped with steering.
   • A docked tail: The short tail of certain animals, like horses or dogs, that has been cut short.
   • A former British coin: An informal historical term for a shilling.

2. Verb:

   • To move with short, quick motions: To move up and down or back and forth in a series of small, bouncy movements.
   • To cut hair in a bob style: To cut someone's hair to the length and style of a bob.
   • To make a quick, respectful gesture: To perform a small, quick curtsy or bow.
   • To ride a bobsled: To travel down a slope on a bobsled.
   • To try to catch with the mouth: To attempt to seize something, like fruit, with the teeth, often while it is floating or dangling.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • She greeted me with a friendly bob of her head.
  • She got a chic bob haircut for the summer.
  • The fishing bob dipped below the surface of the water.
  • The pendulum's bob swung back and forth with a steady rhythm.

• Verb:

  • The small boat bobbed gently on the waves.
  • She decided to bob her long hair for a new look.
  • The young girl bobbed politely when the queen entered the room.
  • We spent the afternoon bobbing for apples at the fair.

Advanced Usage

• "To bob up": To appear suddenly or unexpectedly.
  • Just when we thought he was gone, he bobbed up in the crowd.
• "To bob up and down": To move repeatedly in an up-and-down motion.
  • The buoy was bobbing up and down in the rough sea.

Variants and Related Words

• Bobbed (adj): Describing something cut short or moved quickly.
• Bobbing (n/adj): The action or state of moving with short, quick motions.
• Bobtail (n): An animal with a docked or very short tail.

Synonyms

• Nod (v/n): A quick, slight downward movement of the head.
• Float (v): To rest or move on the surface of a liquid.
• Duck (v): To lower the head or body quickly.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Bob for: To try to catch something, typically fruit, with the teeth while it is in water or suspended.
  • The children loved to bob for apples at the Halloween party.
• Bob along: To move or proceed in a casual, bouncing manner.
  • The little boat bobbed along the calm river.

Related Idioms

• Bob's your uncle: (British, informal) An expression meaning "there you have it" or "it's all done," indicating that something is easily accomplished.
  • Just add salt, stir, and Bob's your uncle—the soup is ready!
• To bob and weave: To move quickly and erratically to avoid something, originally a boxing term.
  • The politician had to bob and weave to avoid answering the difficult questions.

Noun

1. a short abrupt inclination (as of the head)
   • he gave me a short bob of acknowledgement
2. a short or shortened tail of certain animals
3. a small float usually made of cork; attached to a fishing line
4. a hanging weight, especially a metal ball on a string
5. a long racing sled (for 2 or more people) with a steering mechanism
6. a hair style for women and children; a short haircut all around
7. a former monetary unit in Great Britain

Verb

1. cut hair in the style of a bob
   • Bernice bobs her hair these days!
2. make a curtsy; usually done only by girls and women; as a sign of respect
   • She curtsied when she shook the Queen's hand
3. remove or shorten the tail of an animal
4. ride a bobsled
   • The boys bobbed down the hill screaming with pleasure
5. move up and down repeatedly
   • her rucksack bobbed gently on her back