stab

noun [C]

/stæb/

Definition

› the act of pushing a knife into someone, or an injury caused by stabbing: He was admitted to hospital with stab wounds.Physical and sexual assault and abductionSexual activity in generalCutting and stabbing › a sudden feeling, especially an unpleasant one such as pain: She felt a stab of envy when she saw all the expensive presents Zoe had been given for Christmas.Pain and painfulFeelings - general words › an action or remark that attacks someone's reputation: Her criticism of the company's plans was a stab at the chairman himself.Damaging reputationDisapproving and criticizing

(Definition of stab noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)