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Meaning of boss in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Definitions
  3. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions
  4. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  1. Pronunciation

    /bɔs/

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    How to pronounce boss in American English, in context ▾
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    How to pronounce boss in British English, in context ▾
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  1. Verb

    boss

    Definitions

    1. raise in a relief

    Examples

    • « embossed stationary »

    Derived terms

    • embossment
    • impression
    • knob
    • relief
    • relievo
    • rilievo
    • sculptural relief
    • seal
    • stamp
  2. Classifying Adjective

    boss

    Definitions

    1. exceptionally good

    Examples

    • « a boss hand at carpentry »
    • « his brag cornfield »

    Synonyms

    • superior
  3. Noun

    boss

    Etymology

    early 19th century (originally US): from Dutch baas‘master’

    Definitions

    1. a person who exercises control over workers

    Examples

    • « if you want to leave early you have to ask the foreman »
  4. 2. a person responsible for hiring workers

    Examples

    • « the boss hired three more men for the new job »

    Derived terms

    • employ
    • engage
    • hire
  5. 3. a person who exercises control and makes decisions

    Examples

    • « he is his own boss now »
  6. 4. a leader in a political party who controls votes and dictates appointments

    Examples

    • « party bosses have a reputation for corruption »
  7. 5. a circular rounded projection or protuberance

    Derived terms

    • emboss
    • stamp

Famous quotes

  • « A group or an artist shouldn't get his money until his boss gets his. »
    Bobby Darin
  • « Actually, I started to become an actress because I met someone who was just a friend and I found his life wonderful, I thought, Oh my god, you can travel, you're free, you can do what you want, you're the boss. And then I met an actor and I was in love with him. »
    Lea Seydoux
  • « People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader leads, and the boss drives. »
    Theodore Roosevelt
  • « I'm a spoilt brat. I thought I was just going to walk in and make movies. But I'd been my own boss for so long that all of a sudden to be facing a roomful of people who were niggling over every little scene... I just thought I'd go back and draw my comics and have a happy life. »
    Frank Miller
  • « The best plan now is to have as many bosses as possible. I call it boss diversity. If you work for a company and you have one boss and that boss doesn't like you or wants to get rid of you, you're in trouble. But if you work for yourself, you have lots of bosses, who are your customers, and if a few of them decide they don't like you, that's okay. »
    Scott Adams

Browse dictionary

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