/ sɒb; NAmE sɑːb/ verb , noun
■ verb ( -bb- )
1.
[ v ] to cry noisily, taking sudden, sharp breaths :
I heard a child sobbing loudly.
He started to sob uncontrollably.
2.
sob sth (out) to say sth while you are crying :
[ v speech ]
'I hate him,' she sobbed.
[ vn ]
He sobbed out his troubles.
•
IDIOMS
- sob your heart out
■ noun
an act or the sound of sobbing :
He gave a deep sob.
Her body was racked (= shaken) with sobs.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : perhaps of Dutch or Low German origin; compare with Dutch dialect sabben to suck.