hob

UK: /ˈhɒb/ US: /hɑb/ ,(hob)

Inflections of 'hob' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

hobs

v 3rd person singular

hobbing

v pres p

hobbed

v past

hobbed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

hob² /hɑb/   n. [countable]

1. a hobgoblin or elf.

Idioms

2. Idioms play hob with, [~ + object] to do harm to:
   That plays hob with our plans.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

hob¹  (hob), n., v., hobbed, hob•bing. 
n. 

1. a projection or shelf at the back or side of a fireplace, used for keeping food warm.
2. Games a rounded peg or pin used as a target in quoits and similar games.
3. Games a game in which such a peg is used.
4. Mechanical Engineering [Mach.] a milling cutter for gear and sprocket teeth, splines, threads, etc., having helically arranged teeth and fed across the work as the work is rotated.

v.t., v.i. 

5. Mechanical Engineering [Mach.] to cut with a hob.

• 1505–15; variant of obsolete hub hob (in a fireplace); perh. identical with hub

hob′ber, n. 

hob²  (hob), n. 

1. a hobgoblin or elf.
2. Idioms play hob with, to do mischief or harm to:
   The child played hob with my radio, and now it won't work at all.
3. Idioms raise hob, to cause a destructive commotion;
   behave disruptively:
   They raised such hob with their antagonistic questions that the meeting broke up.

• Middle English, special use of Hob, for Robert or Robin 1275–1325

hob′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hob / hɒb/ noun

1. the flat top part of a cooking stove, or a separate flat surface, containing hotplates or burners
2. a shelf beside an open fire, for keeping kettles, etc, hot
3. a steel pattern used in forming a mould or die in cold metal

Etymology: 16th Century: variant of obsolete hubbe, of unknown origin; perhaps related to hub

hob / hɒb/ noun

1. a hobgoblin or elf
2. a male ferret
3. raise hob, play hob ⇒ to cause mischief or disturbance

Etymology: 14th Century: variant of Rob, short for Robin or Robert