Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person who is in charge of a worker, organization, or group: A "boss" is someone who has authority over others, makes decisions, and is responsible for managing people or a business.
   • A leader in a political organization who controls votes and appointments: In politics, a "boss" is a powerful leader who controls a party's activities and decisions, often through influence.
   • A circular projection or knob: In design, manufacturing, or geology, a "boss" is a rounded, raised area or protuberance on a surface.

2. Verb:

   • To give orders to people in an authoritative or domineering manner: To "boss" someone means to tell them what to do in a commanding way.
   • To decorate with a raised design; to emboss: To "boss" a surface means to ornament it with a pattern that stands out in relief.

3. Adjective (Informal):

   • Excellent; first-rate; masterful: Used informally to describe something or someone as exceptionally good or skilled.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Person in charge):
  • She asked her boss for a day off.
  • He started his own company so he could be his own boss.
• Noun (Political leader):
  • The party boss decided who would get the nomination.
• Noun (Rounded projection):
  • The shield was decorated with a bronze boss in the center.
• Verb (To give orders):
  • He's always trying to boss everyone around.
• Verb (To emboss):
  • The artisan bossed the leather with an intricate pattern.
• Adjective (Excellent):
  • That was a boss move you made in the meeting.

Advanced Usage

• "to boss it": To act in a domineering or controlling manner.
  • He loves to boss it over the new interns.
• "boss about/around": To order someone to do things in an unpleasant, authoritarian way.
  • She resents being bossed around by her older sibling.

Variants and Related Words

• Bossy (adj): Fond of giving people orders; domineering.
  • His bossy attitude made him unpopular with his peers.
• Foreman/Boss (n): A worker who supervises others. While "foreman" is a specific type of supervisor, it is often synonymous with "boss" in a work context.
• Emboss (v): To carve, mold, or stamp a design on a surface so that it stands out in relief. This is a more specific and common term for the decorative meaning of the verb "to boss."

Synonyms

• Noun (Supervisor): Manager, supervisor, chief, head, employer.
• Verb (To order): Order, command, dictate, domineer.
• Adjective (Excellent): Awesome, superb, stellar, ace.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Boss around/about: As defined in Advanced Usage.
• Boss up (Informal): To take charge or act with authority and confidence.
  • You need to boss up and negotiate for a higher salary.

Related Idioms

• To be one's own boss: To be self-employed or independent, not working for someone else.
  • After years in corporate jobs, she loves being her own boss.
• Show who's boss: To demonstrate that one is in charge.
  • The new manager called a meeting to show who's boss.

Adjective

1. exceptionally good
   • a boss hand at carpentry
   • his brag cornfield

Noun

1. a circular rounded projection or protuberance
2. a leader in a political party who controls votes and dictates appointments
   • party bosses have a reputation for corruption
3. a person who exercises control and makes decisions
   • he is his own boss now
4. a person responsible for hiring workers
   • the boss hired three more men for the new job
5. a person who exercises control over workers
   • if you want to leave early you have to ask the foreman

Verb

1. raise in a relief
   • embossed stationery