boss

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Translations 1.2.2 Verb 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Noun 1.3.1.1 Synonyms 1.4 Etymology 3 1.4.1 Noun 1.4.1.1 Synonyms 1.4.1.2 Derived terms 1.4.1.3 Translations 1.4.2 Verb 1.4.2.1 Derived terms 1.4.2.2 Translations 1.4.3 Adjective 1.5 Anagrams 2 Italian 2.1 Etymology 2.2 Noun 2.2.1 Synonyms

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK): IPA: /bɒs/, SAMPA: /bQs/
• (US): enPR: bäs, IPA: /bɑs/, SAMPA: /bAs/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -ɒs

[edit] Etymology 1

From Old French boce (modern bosse), of uncertain origin.

[edit] Noun

boss (plural bosses)

1. A swelling, lump or protuberance in an animal, person or object.
2. (geology) A lump-like mass of rock, especially one projecting through a strata of different rock.
3. A convex protuberance in hammered work, especially the rounded projection in the centre of a shield.
4. (mechanics) A protrusion, frequently a cylinder of material that extends beyond a hole.
5. (architecture) A knob or projection, usually at the intersection of ribs in a vault.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to boss (third-person singular simple present bosses, present participle bossing, simple past and past participle bossed)

1. (transitive) To decorate with bosses; to emboss.

[edit] Etymology 2

Apparently a corruption of bass.

[edit] Noun

boss (plural bosses)

1. (obsolete) A hassock or small seat, especially made from a bundle of straw.
   • 1916, James Joyce, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Macmillan Press Ltd, paperback, 36:

     All were waiting : uncle Charles, who sat far away in the shadow of the window, Dante and Mr Casey, who sat in the easy chairs at either side of the hearth, Stephen, seated on a chair between them, his feet resting on a toasting boss.

[edit] Synonyms

• (hassock or footrest): footrest, hassock

[edit] Etymology 3

From Dutch baas, a term of respect originally used to address an older relative. Later, in New Amsterdam, it began to mean a person in charge who is not a master.

[edit] Noun

boss (plural bosses)

1. A person who oversees and directs the work of others; a supervisor.
2. A person in charge of a business or company.

   Chat turned to whisper when the boss entered the conference room.

   My boss complains that I'm always late to work.

3. A leader, the head of an organized group or team.

   • They named him boss because he had good leadership skills.

4. The head of a political party in a given region or district.

   He is the Republican boss in Kentucky.

5. (informal) A term of address to a man.

   Yes, boss.

6. (video games) A final enemy in a video game or in a level/major area/dungeon that is particularly challenging and usually must be beaten in order to progress in or to complete the game.

[edit] Synonyms

• (person in charge of a business or company): employer
• (person who oversees and directs the work of others): line manager, manager, supervisor
• (leader of an organized group or team): head, leader
• (head of a political party in a given region or district): leader
• (informal: term of address to a man): gov/guv (UK), guvnor (UK), mate (UK)
• See also Wikisaurus:boss

[edit] Derived terms

• boss battle
• boss fight
• miniboss
• final boss
• show someone who's boss
• you're the boss

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to boss (third-person singular simple present bosses, present participle bossing, simple past and past participle bossed)

1. (transitive) To exercise authoritative control over; to lord over; to boss around; to tell (someone) what to do, often repeatedly.
   • 1932: Lorine Pruette, The Parent and the Happy Child, page 76

     His sisters bossed him and spoiled him. All their lives he was to go on being their little brother, who could do no wrong, because he was the baby; [...]

   • 1967: Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, The purloined paperweight, page 90

     She bossed him, and he's never gotten over it. She still orders him around, and instead of telling her to go soak her head, he just says 'Yes, ma'am' as weak as a newborn jellyfish [...]

   • 1980: Jean Toomer The wayward and the seeking: a collection of writings by Jean Toomer, page 40

     For if, on the one hand, I bossed him and showed him what to do and how to do it, [...]

[edit] Derived terms

• boss about, boss around

[edit] Translations

[edit] Adjective

boss (not comparable)

1. (slang) (Liverpudlian) Of excellent quality, first-rate.

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: boss
• BSOs
• sobs

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[edit] Italian

[edit] Etymology

English

[edit] Noun

boss m. inv.

1. boss (leader of a business, company or criminal organization)

[edit] Synonyms

• capo