Job — Defs

01 n. A sudden thrust or stab; a jab.

1.
A sudden thrust or stab; a jab.
2.
A piece of chance or occasional work; any definite work undertaken in gross for a fixed price; as, he did the job for a thousand dollars.
3.
A public transaction done for private profit; something performed ostensibly as a part of official duty, but really for private gain; a corrupt official business.
4.
Any affair or event which affects one, whether fortunately or unfortunately.[Colloq.]
5.
A situation or opportunity of work; as, he lost his job.[Colloq.]
6.
A task, or the execution of a task; as, Michelangelo did a great job on the David statue.
7.
A task or coordinated set of tasks for a multitasking computer, submitted for processing as a single unit, usually for execution in background. See job control language.(Computers) See: job control language

Phrases & compounds

By the job — at a stipulated sum for the work, or for each piece of work done; -- distinguished from time work; as, the house was built by the job.

Job lot — a quantity of goods, usually miscellaneous, sold out of the regular course of trade, at a certain price for the whole; as, these articles were included in a job lot.

Job master — one who lest out horses and carriages for hire, as for family use.

Job printer — one who does miscellaneous printing, esp. circulars, cards, billheads, etc.

Odd job — miscellaneous work of a petty kind; occasional work, of various kinds, or for various people.

to do a job on — to harm badly or destroy.

on the job — alert; performing a responsibility well.

02 v. t. To strike or stab with a pointed instrument.

imp. & p. p. Jobbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Jobbing

1.
To strike or stab with a pointed instrument.
2.
To thrust in, as a pointed instrument.
3.
To do or cause to be done by separate portions or lots; to sublet (work); as, to job a contract.
4.
To buy and sell, as a broker; to purchase of importers or manufacturers for the purpose of selling to retailers; as, to job goods.(Com.)
5.
To hire or let by the job or for a period of service; as, to job a carriage.

03 v. i. To do chance work for hire; to work by the piece; to do petty work.

1.
To do chance work for hire; to work by the piece; to do petty work.
“Authors of all work, to job for the season.” — Moore.
2.
To seek private gain under pretense of public service; to turn public matters to private advantage.
“And judges job, and bishops bite the town.” — Pope.
3.
To carry on the business of a jobber in merchandise or stocks.

04 n. The hero of the book of that name in the Old Testament; the prototypical patient man.

1.
The hero of the book of that name in the Old Testament; the prototypical patient man.

Phrases & compounds

Job's comforter — A false friend; a tactless or malicious person who, under pretense of sympathy, insinuates rebukes.

Job's news — bad news.

Job's tears — a kind of grass (Coix Lacryma), with hard, shining, pearly grains.