job

I. noun Etymology: perhaps from obsolete English job lump Date: circa 1627 1. a. a piece of work; especially a small miscellaneous piece of work undertaken on order at a stated rate b. the object or material on which work is being done c. something produced by or as if by work <

do a better job next time

> d. an example of a usually specified type ; item <

a 14,000-square-foot job with…seven bedrooms — Rick Telander

> 2. a. something done for private advantage <

suspected the whole incident was a put-up job

> b. a criminal enterprise; specifically robbery c. a damaging or destructive bit of work <

did a job on him

> 3. a. (1) something that has to be done ; task (2) an undertaking requiring unusual exertion <

it was a real job to talk over that noise

> b. a specific duty, role, or function c. a regular remunerative position d. chiefly British state of affairs — usually used with bad or good <

it was a good job you didn't hit the old man — E. L. Thomas

> 4. plastic surgery for cosmetic purposes <

a nose job

> Synonyms: see task II. verb (jobbed; jobbing) Date: 1694 intransitive verb 1. to do odd or occasional pieces of work for hire 2. to carry on public business for private gain 3. to carry on the business of a middleman or wholesaler transitive verb 1. to buy and sell (as stock) for profit ; speculate 2. to hire or let by the job or for a period of service 3. to get, deal with, or effect by jobbery 4. to do or cause to be done by separate portions or lots ; subcontract — often used with out 5. to penalize or deprive unfairly III. adjective Date: 1710 1. British that is for hire for a given service or period 2. used in, engaged in, or done as job work <

a job shop

> 3. of or relating to a job or to employment <

a guarantee of job security

>