job 1
/job/ , n. , v. , jobbed, jobbing , adj.
n.
1. a piece of work, esp. a specific task done as part of the routine of one's occupation or for an agreed price: She gave him the job of mowing the lawn.
2. a post of employment; full-time or part-time position: She was seeking a job as an editor.
3. anything a person is expected or obliged to do; duty; responsibility: It is your job to be on time.
4. an affair, matter, occurrence, or state of affairs: to make the best of a bad job.
5. the material, project, assignment, etc., being worked upon: The housing project was a long and costly job.
6. the process or requirements, details, etc., of working: It was a tedious job.
7. the execution or performance of a task: She did a good job.
8. Slang. a theft or similar criminal action: The police caught the gang that pulled that bank job.
9. a public or official act or decision carried through for the sake of improper private gain.
10. Slang. an example of a specific or distinctive type: That little six-cylinder job was the best car I ever owned.
11. Computers. a unit of work for a computer, generally comprising an application program or group of related programs and the data, linkages, and instructions to the operating system needed for running the programs.
12. do a job on , Slang.
a. to destroy, defeat, damage, or confound thoroughly: The thugs did a job on him - he'll be in the hospital for a month.
b. to deceive, persuade, or charm glibly; snow.
13. on the job , alert; observant: The cops were on the job and caught them red-handed.
v.i.
14. to work at jobs or odd pieces of work; work by the piece.
15. to do business as a jobber.
16. to turn public business, planning, etc., improperly to private gain.
v.t.
17. to assign or give (work, a contract for work, etc.) in separate portions, as among different contractors or workers (often fol. by out ): He jobbed out the contract to a number of small outfits.
18. to buy in large quantities, as from wholesalers or manufacturers, and sell to dealers in smaller quantities: He jobs shoes in Ohio and Indiana.
19. to get rid of or dispose of: His party jobbed him when he sought a second term in office.
20. to swindle or trick (someone): They jobbed him out of his property.
21. to carry on (public or official business) for improper private gain.
adj.
22. of or for a particular job or transaction.
23. bought, sold, or handled together: He's too big a customer to buy in less than job quantities.
[ 1620-30; 1935-40 for def. 16; orig. uncert. ]
Syn. 1. See task. 2. See position .
job 2
/job/ , v.t., v.i., jobbed, jobbing , n.
jab.
[ 1480-90; ME jobben, of uncert. orig. ]