1. [Brit] The top of a cooker with hotplates or burners
   "She placed the pan on the hob to simmer the sauce";
   - cooktop [N. Amer], stovetop [N. Amer]
    
2. A shelf beside an open fire where something can be kept warm
   "She placed the teapot on the hob to keep it hot"
    
3. A hard steel edge tool used to cut gears
   "The machinist used a hob to create precise gear teeth"
    
4. (folklore) a small grotesque supernatural creature that makes trouble for human beings
   "The children's story featured a mischievous hob who hid people's belongings";
   - goblin, hobgoblin, pooka [Ireland]
    
5. (folklore) fairies that are somewhat mischievous
   "The hobs would secretly help with household chores but also play tricks on the family";
   - elf, gremlin, pixie, pixy, brownie, imp
    
6. A male ferret
   "The breeder kept several hobs for mating purposes"

1. Cut with a hob
   "The machinist hobbed the gear teeth precisely"

Derived forms: hobs, hobbed, hobbing

Type of: cut, edge tool, evil spirit, faerie, faery, fairy, fay [archaic], shelf, sprite

Encyclopedia: Hob